Work

Bridging disclosure and action: The role of intermediaries in gender pay gap regulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The gender pay gap (GPG) has come to symbolise persistent inequalities women face at work. In response, governments are increasingly adopting regulation that requires employers to disclose gendered differences in pay, although often without compelling employers to address these pay gaps. An important question therefore arises over the role and capacity of non-state actors operating as regulatory intermediaries to hold employers accountable for closing GPGs. We use Australia as a case study, where a recent government-led review of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 provides insight into intermediaries’ perspectives on GPG disclosure regulation. Drawing on 121 submissions to this legislative review as well as 14 in-depth qualitative interviews, we provide novel insights to identify the cast of regulatory intermediaries, their means of influence and, importantly, the legislative features that enable them to influence employer action to close the GPG.

Source: Journal of Industrial Relations

DOI: 10.1177/00221856251337198

Authors: Sally Curtis, Jananie William, Anna von Reibnitz, Miriam Glennie, Andreas Pekarek

Institutions: Australian National University, The University of Melbourne

Language: English

Topic: Employment, Labor, and Gender Studies

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Gender equality, Reduced inequalities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,650