Ministers urged to protect DEI pay gap informants

Ministers have been urged to pass legislation that would protect whistleblowers who expose employers who flout forthcoming UK diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) laws.

- Chris Osuh

The equality (race and disability) bill, which the equalities minister Seema Malhotra has described as part of the government's "absolute" commitment to DEI, is expected to be published this year.

As law, the bill would compel employers with more than 250 staff to reveal whether white and non-disabled staff are paid more than black, minority ethnic and disabled employees, in the same way that employers have to report gender pay gaps.

It is also expected to establish an equal pay regulatory and enforcement unit to prevent pay discrimination and could compel employers to produce action plans on what they are doing to improve equality.

Responses to the consultation, which closed in June and is being used to shape the bill, include proposals for protecting whistleblowers who report employers hiding pay gap information.