Firms told to publish salaries in job adverts ahead of new law

Prime Minister Andy Burnham is calling on businesses to publish salary information in job adverts now, rather than wait for a new law to make the practice compulsory.

Firms urged to act early

The message places the focus on employers’ current approach to recruitment. Businesses have been told to include salaries in their advertisements ahead of the legislation, which will require them to do so.

For jobseekers, the change would mean salary details are available directly in the advert instead of being withheld until later in the recruitment process. For firms, Burnham’s call amounts to an appeal to adopt the requirement before it becomes a legal obligation.

New law will make disclosure mandatory

The planned legislation is expected to require businesses to publish salaries in job adverts. The available information does not set out when the law will come into force or provide details about how the requirement will be enforced.

That leaves the immediate decision with employers: they can begin publishing pay information now or wait until the legal requirement is introduced. Burnham’s intervention is intended to encourage businesses to move ahead of that deadline.

What businesses need to know

The central change is straightforward. Salary details, currently not required in the information provided, will have to appear in job adverts once the new law takes effect. Until then, firms are being encouraged to act voluntarily.

The development signals a forthcoming change in recruitment practice, with businesses being asked to prepare before the requirement becomes mandatory.