Research by the Equal Opportunities Commission reveals that women graduates
can expect to be earning 15 per cent less on average than men before they reach
the age of 24.
Julie Mellor, chairwoman of the EOC, highlighted the study’s findings as she
announced that the EOC is joining forces with the National Union of Students to
encourage their members to ask potential employers what they are doing about
equal pay.
"We know employers don’t set out to cheat women – most pay
discrimination is a hidden problem. That is precisely why employers need to
review their pay systems to make sure they are not short changing women.
Employers aren’t taking steps to find out the truth about pay in their
firm."
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The EOC’s link with the NUS is part of its Valuing Women campaign, which is
calling for equal pay audits to become compulsory if 50 per cent of large
employers have not carried out pay reviews by the end of 2003.
