Equal pay: overview

by Practical Law Employment

Maintained | England, Scotland, Wales

This note provides an overview of the law relating to equal pay under the Equality Act 2010 and Equal Pay Act 1970, with reference where appropriate to Article 157 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (formerly Article 141 of the EC treaty). It sets out the different elements of an equal pay claim: who is eligible to claim, with whom they may compare their terms, what they must prove, and what defences the employer may have.

Get access to this document with Practical Law

The value of Practical Law

Deliver results and stay ahead with the help of Practical Law's built-in network of legal experts

As a legal professional, your time is a precious resource. Whether you need insights on a market-leading precedent, help navigating a new topic, how-to guidance on the law with an integrated drafting note, or a checklist to help mitigate risk, you can rely on Practical Law.

Practical Law is the only legal know-how solution supported by a team of over 650 full-time global editors who obsessively monitor the law and create resources to help you navigate the unknown and practise more efficiently.

Make the most of your time and resources

Jumpstart your work 

Easy-to-use tools deliver a great starting point, so you spend less time searching for templates, building presentations, or delving into unfamiliar areas.

Get how-to guidance 

Practical resources provide you with in-depth expert knowledge and insights to help you work more efficiently and make informed decisions confidently.

Rely on worldwide expertise 

We offer global and comparative content with thousands of assets covering critical legal topics in more than 100 countries, including weekly updates and daily alerts for EU Law.

Experience Practical Law