The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has revealed that its BAME employees earned on average 20% less than their white colleagues during 2019/20.
The RSH voluntarily released the data for the first time as part of its annual equality information report, which is compulsory for public bodies with at least 150 employees.
Updated figures on the gender pay gap at the RSH have also been published, showing an improvement from the previous year.
Of the 161 people employed by the RSH at the end of March 2020, 16% were from a BAME background, 83% from a non-ethnic minority, and 2% undeclared.
The mean pay gap between BAME and white staff during 2019/20 was 20.28%.
The figures are based on overall average salaries across the organisation and are not a measure of pay for equivalent roles.
A lack of people from BAME backgrounds in the top pay quartile was blamed for the gap; 2.5% of people in the highest pay quartile were BAME, compared with 22.5% in the bottom quartile.
Commenting on its decision to publish the figures, the RSH said: “It is best practice and transparent to fully support the regulations regarding equal pay across the public sector,” adding that they will act as a benchmark for measuring future performance.
Following the report, the RSH said it is now “necessary” to look at staff recruitment and retention.
The report said: “We have a number of actions in progress, which will help to support increased diversity in recruitment, particularly at senior levels.
“With management support, our staff have established a BAME network where staff will be able to contribute insight and make recommendations to attract and retain BAME candidates – particularly at senior manager level and above.
“We are also committed to positive action in our recruitment, ensuring that BAME candidates make up at least 20% of all shortlists and adding candidates to achieve that level where they pass the benchmark for job applications, if it is not achieved or exceeded via the initial shift.”
Image: SmartPhotoLab/Shutterstock
Read next: Ongo shortlisted in national equality, diversity, and inclusion awards
Are you a social housing professional? Sign up for a FREE MEMBERSHIP to upload news stories, post job vacancies, and connect with colleagues on our secure social feed.