Equal pay refers to the principle that men and women should receive equal compensation for performing work of comparable value. It means that employees who perform the same job, or whose jobs require similar skills, education, responsibility, and effort, should be paid at the same rate regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability status, or any other protected characteristic. The concept is based on the idea that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and equally in the workplace, and that pay disparities can perpetuate inequality and contribute to wage gaps between men and women.