5. Equality in employment

The pay differences seen between different ethnic groups come about for a range of reasons which are not always immediately apparent. On a national level a major reason is that certain ethnic/gender groups are clustered into low-paying jobs and industries.

Causes of unequal pay in an organisation can include:

• BAME workers disproportionately occupying lower grade jobs;

• low value being given to the work they do;

• lack of progression opportunities; and

• bias in appraisal regimes linked to pay.

By law employers must ensure they do not discriminate in their pay awards. This covers not just direct pay discrimination but also indirectly, for example through performance appraisal and promotion procedures with an in-built bias against certain groups. However, the detailed law covering gender pay equality does not extend to race equality.

Union reps and negotiators have a major role to play in getting employers to identify and tackle potential sources of race pay inequality.