Three of Britain's biggest charities have reported that white staff earn less on average than ethnic minority colleagues, according to figures reported by The Telegraph. Oxfam, Cancer Research UK and the British Red Cross all recorded negative ethnicity pay gaps in 2025, meaning white employees received lower median salaries.
Oxfam reports largest gap
Oxfam reported the biggest difference, with white staff earning 33% less than colleagues identifying as black or a person of colour (BPOC), up from 10.4% in 2024. The gap stood at 7.6% at Cancer Research UK and 11.4% at the British Red Cross.
The figures have fuelled debate over positive action under the Equality Act 2010, with critics warning diversity initiatives could disadvantage other candidates.
Political criticism
James Wild, the shadow culture minister, said people "should be rewarded for their talent and hard work, regardless of their background or ethnicity".
Suella Braverman, Reform UK's equalities spokesman, said: "These are the results of the Equality Act laid bare. Rampant positive action schemes are actively discriminating against white, working-class Brits in favour of ethnic minorities, leading to certain groups gaining an upper hand when it comes to the jobs market."
Lord Young of Acton, founder of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph the Act's positive action provisions had become "a get-out-of-jail-free card for any employer who wants to discriminate against white people".
Charities respond
However, the charities said their figures did not necessarily indicate unequal pay for the same work, pointing to differences in staff roles and reporting.
Oxfam said only around 70% of employees had disclosed their ethnicity for its data, warning that the results "cannot be seen as conclusive". It added: "We do not operate a policy of positive discrimination."
Cancer Research UK said its gap was narrowing and was "the closest to being neutral it has ever been". It said white staff were more likely to work in lower-paid charity shops, while ethnic minority employees were more represented in higher-paid technology roles.
The British Red Cross said ethnic minority colleagues accounted for 19.6% of its workforce and that changes in staff composition could affect its figures. It said its priority was ensuring people were paid fairly "regardless of ethnicity".
The Government is planning to require organisations with more than 250 employees to publish ethnicity and disability pay gap reports.
