ACS

Harriet Harman, the leader of the Commons, will unveil an Equalities Bill setting out plans to prevent employers paying women less.

The new Equalities Bill will force employers to disclose salary structures in a bid to close the gender pay gap.

The Bill will also effectively outlaw "gagging clauses" in employment contracts that forbid the disclosure of salary details.

Miss Harman said: "We have got to get past this British-think where you don't talk about pay and it's all shrouded in secrecy.

“Female part-time workers still earn 40% less per hour than their full-time male counterparts, do we think she is 40% less intelligent, less committed, less hard-working, less qualified? It's not the case. It's entrenched discrimination. It's allowed to persist because it's all swept under the carpet."

Age discrimination will also be outlawed in the provision of goods and services, such as holidays and insurance.

It is likely organisations and companies will be given time to review and, if necessary, change their practices before the new law would be enforced.

Other age distinctions, such as free bus passes and holidays for the over-50s or 18-to-30s, will be exempt.