Government moves to mandate gender pay gap reporting

Minister for Women Katy Gallagher on Wednesday introduced a bill to the Senate that would require workplaces with 100 or more employees to publish pay gap data.

The minister said this would be a key reform to drive transparency and action on equality.

"On current projections it will take another 26 years to close the gender pay gap," she said.

Australian women are earning nearly $26,000 less than male colleagues.

Data released by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency in December showed the gap was stuck at 22.8 per cent.

Seven in 10 employers have pay gaps favouring men while women continue to be under-represented in leadership.

Australian Council of Trade Unions head Michele O'Neil said despite equal pay being a right enshrined in law, there were structural and cultural issues across workplaces which contributed to the pay gap.

"For too long, individual companies with significant gender pay gaps have been able to evade scrutiny and avoid having to address problems within their workplaces that have led to women workers being undervalued," she said.

Ms O'Neil said the government should next require all businesses to disclose gender pay and implement measures to close the superannuation gap.

Senator Gallagher said inequality hurts the economy, with $51.8 billion a year lost in women's pay.

"Women have waited long enough for the pay gap to close, let's not wait another quarter of a century," she said.

"The bill will also reduce red tape for businesses making it easier to report."

Reporting would start in 2024, drawing on data already provided by employers.

Gender pay gaps would be published on the Workplace Gender Equality Agency website.

Australian Associated Press