What is meant by 'equal pay'?

The Equality Act 2010 states that men and women are entitled to equal pay for equal work. Equal work is categorised as follows:  

• 'like work' – this means the same, or broadly similar work; 
• 'work rated as equivalent' – this is different work, but where the jobs have been rated as equivalent under a job evaluation scheme; and 
• 'work of equal value' – this is different work, but which could be rated as equivalent if there had been a job evaluation scheme.  

Pay includes all contractual elements of wages and salaries including pensions. Equal pay law applies to all workers whose contract requires personal service, including apprentices and even self-employed people who are contracted to do work personally. It doesn’t matter whether the contract is full-time, part-time, casual or temporary and there is no minimum length of service required.