As the UK marks Ethnicity Pay Gap Day on 8 January, renewed attention is being drawn to the persistent pay inequalities faced by ethnic minority workers, with campaign billboards appearing across London and Manchester until 16 January.
The Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign, founded by Dianne Greyson, is calling on employers and policymakers to address the lack of transparency around ethnicity pay disparities, which continue to leave many workers earning significantly less than their white counterparts. Unlike gender pay gap reporting, ethnicity pay gap reporting remains voluntary in the UK, despite mounting evidence of structural inequality in pay, progression and opportunity.
According to multiple studies, employees from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are, on average, paid less than white employees across many sectors, even when controlling for role and seniority. Campaigners argue that without mandatory reporting, organisations lack both the incentive and accountability to address the problem.
Dianne Greyson, Founder of the Ethnicity Pay Gap Campaign, said:
“Ethnicity Pay Gap Day exists to highlight a reality that too often goes unseen. People are being paid less not because of performance or potential, but because of systemic inequalities that we still refuse to measure properly. Transparency is not about blame – it’s about fairness, honesty and change.”
The billboards, located in Thornton Heath, London and on Oldham Road in Manchester, are designed to prompt public conversation and encourage individuals to share their support on social media. Members of the public are encouraged to visit the sites, take photos or videos, and share them online to help amplify the message.
Greyson added:
“When people see these messages in everyday spaces, it makes the issue harder to ignore. The ethnicity pay gap affects families, communities and future generations. If we want meaningful progress, we need data, leadership and sustained commitment.”
The campaign continues to call for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting, greater employer accountability, and a national conversation that moves beyond statements of intent towards measurable action.
Community groups and organisations alike have aligned in their views:
Muna Yassin MBE, Chief Executive, Rooted Finance
“Ethnicity Pay Gap Day on 8th January provides an opportunity for employers to take the first steps needed to embed equity into their pay structures. It’s vital to shine a light on the inequities faced by Black and Minoritised workers in the workplace. We know that pay isn’t the only issue, with the Leadership Gap compounding pay disparities, as minoritised staff continue to be underrepresented in senior roles and concentrated in lower paid roles. We call on all employers to improve representation and fairness in their workplace by tackling the Ethnicity Pay Gap”
Timi Okuwa, Chief Executive, Black Equity Organisation, said:
The Black Equity Organisation welcomes the ethnicity pay gap being called out on billboards in our streets. Putting the ethnicity pay gap on billboards makes it impossible to ignore what Black workers have long experienced – being paid less because of systemic racism. Visibility matters, but it’s not enough. Without mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting, there is no real accountability, and no real change.
Liz Mayers, Co-founder and CEO of accrEDIted, the only impartial EDI accreditation, is proud to support the #EthnicityPayGap Campaign and will be taking part in the ethnicity pay gap summit next month.
She said: “Any organisation that claims to prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion must ensure its people are paid fairly, regardless of ethnicity, gender or disability. While we wait for the law to catch up and introduce mandatory reporting for ethnicity and disability pay gaps, ethical employers should act now and get ahead of the legislation.
Ethnicity Pay Gap Day on 8 January highlights the significant and persistent pay inequalities faced by ethnically diverse communities, driven by discrimination and structural barriers across the workplace.
It also presents employers of all sizes, across the country, with an opportunity to take this issue seriously, deliver genuine pay equality for their people, and lead the way as true champions of racial equity and inclusion.”
Jeremy Crook OBE, ARE Chief Executive says:
“ARE supports the Ethnicity Pay Gap campaign and awareness created by Dianne Greyson with Ethnicity Pay Gap day on 8 January. It’s important to keep focus on addressing inequalities that arise because of the ethnicity pay gap and to ensure that employers take steps to close this.
Mandatory pay gap reporting by employers will enable them to take an intersectional approach to gender, ethnicity and disability based on their workforce data. We urge the government to require employers to publish pay gap data and produce action plans to eliminate pay disparities. Only these measures will drive employers to build inclusive and fair workplaces.”
Lawrence Davies, co-founder of NO2R, said:
“The NO to Racism movement (“NO2R”) fully supports the Ethnicity Pay Gap campaign and has itself initiated an Ethnicity Pay Recovery Initiative under which we will use the legal system to try to recover the £27 billion owed to black workers in unpaid pay over the last 6 years. Black workers remain underpaid receiving up to 26% less than white workers for the same work. That amounts to about £4.25 billion in lost wages every year, wages unpaid and denied to them simply because of the colour of their skin”.
