Does the Equality Act mean that we have to take away the secrecy clause?

I have also been thinking about that ever since the equal pay clauses became more apparent in the new act. The pay transparency means that you can't discipline your employees if they disclose their salaries, so the secrecy clause would not be enforceable.

I even think that such clauses would be illegal..

Not only that employees will get more access to pay information within their organisations.

Yeah that they will, because employers would be encourages to monitor and report gender pay.

Larger corporations are even expected to do this voluntarily.

I think that there is also talk on making it compulsory in four years time.

I don't think that having the clause would be illegal. It's just that you can't initiate any discipline processes or fire your employees for violating secrecy clauses anymore. If you do, then THAT'S illegal.