Draft laws aim to stamp out gender pay gap

Draft laws introduced to federal parliament on Monday would require businesses to certify they pay men and women equally.

Australian companies would have to prove they pay men and women equally under draft laws introduced to federal parliament.

Businesses with 25 or more employees would have to show that gender is not a factor when making decisions about pay under the private members' bill introduced by independent Tasmanian MP Andrew Wilkie on Monday.

"Australia's gender pay gap is currently 14.6 per cent. This is simply unacceptable and we must take steps to address it," Mr Wilkie said.