• The UK’s Office for Equality and Opportunity is seeking public comments on how equal pay laws can do more to extend protections for ethnic and disabled workers and increase pay transparency, in a move indicating that the government wants the UK’s pay equity policy framework to be competitive with EU member states’ implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive.
• The consultation has two main phases: identifying weak points within the current system and extending existing rights and protections.
• The consultation closes on October 27, 2026. A full analysis of all the responses will be published after the close date.

The UK’s consultation is a result of the government’s Make Work Pay plan, which is committed to extending the rights of ethnic and disabled workers. Additionally, this is part of a wider effort to increase salary transparency across the UK by including salary information in job postings. Currently, there is still ambiguity over whether this means exact amounts or salary ranges.

Phase one of the consultation will target outdated, reactive, and costly structures. The government has proposed reintroducing equal pay questionnaires. This would make the equal claims process more accessible, as it would help employees understand if they in fact have a claim.

The government also has proposed creating a new Equal Pay Regulation and Enforcement Unit within the Office for Equality and Opportunity. This body would be responsible for enforcing equal pay obligations and...

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