Equality watchdog urges ministers to ban bosses from asking job applicants about their salary history or expectations in interviews

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has called on the government to go further than its existing equal pay reforms by banning employers from asking candidates about previous earnings or salary expectations during hiring. EHRC chair Dr Mary-Ann Stephenson warned that without the change, existing pay inequalities will simply follow workers from job to job. The call came as the government's own consultation on equal pay reforms closed on Tuesday.

Research by the Fawcett Society found 58% of women and 54% of men felt salary history questions led to them being offered less.

The EHRC also wants firms to be legally required to disclose what current employees earn, not just advertise salary ranges in job adverts.

Sixty-one per cent of women said being asked about past pay damaged their confidence to negotiate better wages, against 53% of men.