If companies are willing to go across the Pacific ocean in search of lower wages, surely they are willing to go across the street to hire women whose wages are allegedly 20-40% lower, depending on who you ask. Simple economics will correct this problem - there is no need for hamfisted legislation.

What this translates to is yet another restriction on firm size. Let's say you run a successful marketing firm with 24 employees and you'd like to grow. Normally, the cost of hiring 5 new people would just be their salaries. Instead, you now have to consider all of the additional compliance costs which act as a barrier to growth.

Labor market restrictions, even the most well meaning ones, are a huge impediment to growth.  The western world needs to drive growth now more than ever with an ageing population and expanding welfare state.