Banbury MP Sean Woodcock is backing a government move to force businesses to declare the salary they will pay in job advertisements.

Mr Woodcock is supporting plans to make businesses ‘say what they pay’. Government is making salary information mandatory in job adverts as part of the Government's work to tackle pay discrimination, close the gender pay gap and create a fairer jobs market.

Under the plans, employers must include clear salary information in job adverts, so jobseekers would no longer have to decipher vague terms such as 'competitive salary' or 'generous perks' to work out whether a job pays enough to support themselves and their families.

The proposals are designed to tackle pay discrimination, particularly against women who too often face barriers to getting a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

Sean Woodcock MP has welcomed plans to oblige employers to declare the salary on job adverts

placeholder image — Sean Woodcock MP has welcomed plans to oblige employers to declare the salary on job adverts

When salaries are hidden, it can be harder to spot pay discrimination, challenge unfair differences in pay and ensure people are being paid fairly.

The changes will benefit young people entering the workforce, making it easier for those at the start of their careers to find opportunities that meet their skills without wasting time applying for jobs that do not offer the right salary.

Mr Woodcock MP said: "People looking for work deserve honesty from employers. Applying for a job can be a major life decision, but too many applicants are expected to invest time and effort without knowing one of the most important details - the salary.

“While job adverts often set out every qualification, responsibility and expectation, many still fail to tell candidates what they will actually be paid.

“That lack of transparency can reinforce existing inequalities, particularly for women, who continue to face barriers in securing equal pay. Bringing salaries into the open would help shine a light on unfairness and support greater accountability.

“It would also give young people and working families the information they need to plan their futures. People should not have to guess whether a job will cover their rent, mortgage or childcare costs.

“Employers across Banbury and North Oxfordshire are already showing that publishing salary information is straightforward and beneficial. These measures would help ensure that transparency becomes the norm rather than the exception.”