JSE Top 40 companies lag in gender pay gap disclosures

ONLY 13 of the JSE Top 40 companies disclose any measurable gender pay gap data, a new briefing by Just Share reveals. Companies that disclosed gender pay were: Anglo American (UK only); Anglo American Platinum; British American Tobacco; Clicks; Discovery; Gold Fields; Impala Holdings; Investec plc, Investec ltd, MTN, Nepi Rockcastle and Vodacom.

- PHILIPPA LARKIN

Despite making up 46% of South Africa’s economically active population, women earn on average 30% less than men, and South Africa's largest listed companies appear to be doing little to change that.

Just Share said even among these, transparency is inconsistent and often limited to international operations where disclosure is mandatory. Fourteen companies offer only vague commitments to “fair pay”, while 13 fail to mention gender pay at all.

International compliance

While the JSE’s Sustainability Disclosure Guidance acknowledges the importance of this issue, recommending that companies report the “ratio of the total annual remuneration of women to men, and by race group, for each employee category, by significant location of operations”, disclosure is currently not enforced. This guidance aligns with international reporting standards and reflects growing investor expectations around transparency and accountability.

By contrast, several international jurisdictions, including Australia and the UK in which several JSE-listed companies operate, have established legislative frameworks to enhance gender pay transparency.