By Ahmed Abdelsalam
The UK government plans to make salary details compulsory in job adverts, with legislation to be brought forward "as soon as possible," Prime Minister Andy Burnham said. Businesses are being urged to publish pay information now rather than wait for the law.
Government Push for Pay Transparency
The move aims to help jobseekers, especially first-time applicants, and prevent pay discrimination. The Cabinet Office consultation showed 94% support for greater transparency. The policy is part of efforts to reduce the nearly one million young people not in education, employment, or training (Neet), ahead of the Milburn Review final report.
Industry Groups Raise Concerns
The CIPD, an HR industry body, warned that setting pay is complex and regulation may not suit all employers. Chief executive Neil Carberry said while transparency is good in principle, practice is more complicated because pay often depends on a candidate's skills, experience, and potential.
Alignment with EU Measures
Similar measures are being introduced in the European Union, requiring employers to disclose initial pay or range before interviews. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) welcomed the UK proposal, calling it a positive step, and recommended employers respond to questionnaires about colleagues' pay to cut discrimination.
Current Salary Disclosure Trends
Data from UK jobs site Adzuna shows 51% of adverts included salary information in September, but the proportion has been falling. Adzuna co-founder Andrew Hunter said openness about pay should be the norm, noting that employers who list salaries attract more and better-suited applicants. Currently, UK employers can ask about current salary but applicants are not obliged to disclose.
