BHA warns of Equalities Bill impact on public sector contracts

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has criticised Government proposals to force companies bidding for public sector contracts to disclose the difference in pay between their male and female staff.

Unveiling the Equalities Bill, deputy leader Harriet Harman said companies bidding for Government work, such as contract caterers, will have to reveal salary structures to make the pay gap between men and women clearer.

The Bill is designed to simplify diversity legislation in the UK and introduce measures to help eradicate the gender pay gap, which currently stands at 17% between men and women in full-time roles.

But the BHA said any new law would simply increase red tape for hospitality businesses.

"It is yet more bureaucracy which will affect small businesses even more than the larger groups - to such an extent that small businesses will not bother to pitch for public sector contracts because of the bureaucracy," a spokesman said.

"Ironically, this is against all that the government is trying to achieve in opening up public contracts to the private sector. One more example of the government's joined-up thinking."

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By Daniel Thomas

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