Bridging disclosure and action: The role of intermediaries in gender pay gap regulation

The gender pay gap (GPG) has come to symbolise persistent inequalities women face at work. In response, governments are increasingly adopting regulation that requires employers to disclose gendered differences in pay, although often without compelling employers to address these pay gaps. An important question therefore arises over the role and capacity of non-state actors operating as regulatory intermediaries to hold employers accountable for closing GPGs. We use Australia as a case study, where a recent government-led review of the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 provides insight into intermediaries’ perspectives on GPG disclosure regulation. Drawing on 121 submissions to this legislative review as well as 14 in-depth qualitative interviews, we provide novel insights to identify the cast of regulatory intermediaries, their means of influence and, importantly, the legislative features that enable them to influence employer action to close the GPG.