The Economic Contract

Part of 1. Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport – in the Senedd at 2:12 pm on 28 November 2018.

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Photo of Ken Skates Ken Skates Labour 2:12, 28 November 2018

There is no doubt in my mind that many employers could adopt the economic contract and provide their employees with a better working environment and opportunities to progress through the workplace and up through various jobs and roles and earn more remuneration as a consequence. Now, the gender pay difference on an hourly full-time basis is 7.3 per cent in Wales and 8.6 per cent across the UK as a whole. Between 2011 and 2018, the gender pay difference in Wales decreased from 9.2 per cent to that 7.3 per cent—so, a welcome move in the right direction over the last seven years. However, I'm afraid that still more work needs to be done, and I think that the role of the Fair Work Commission will be crucial in this regard, in informing how we use the economic contract as the vehicle to drive responsible employer behaviours. Of course, equal pay for men and women is a responsible approach that businesses should adopt.