Employers need to tackle workplace sexism, eliminate bias in recruitment and promotions and expand flexible working options at all levels.

The Scottish Government must act to close the gender pay gap by making childcare more accessible & affordable, addressing the undervaluation of women's work, implementing mandatory gender pay gap action plans & adopting a gendered approach to economic policy.

Women also experience the pay gap differently. #EqualPayDay comes even earlier in the year for disabled women, and for racially-minoritised women, reflecting the impact of intersecting inequalities.

#EqualPayDay is based on the headline pay gap, which includes all workers, but the pay gap for part-time workers is much higher at 22.9% - this means for the 4 in 10 working women who work part-time, many in low paid, undervalued jobs, Equal Pay Day comes a lot earlier.

Our Exec Director Anna Ritchie Allan said: “Without the ability to limit and time their pregnancies, women will always be disadvantaged in the labour market which penalises women with childcare responsibilities, resulting in their concentration in part-time, low-paid & undervalued jobs and sectors."

Abortion rights are intrinsic to realising gender equality. Access to birth control and abortion has enabled women’s higher levels of educational attainment, increased the female employment rate, improved women’s earnings potential, and reduced the gender pay gap.