The Equalities and Human Rights Commission is set to follow up accusations of pay discrimination at the BBC after respected reporter Carrie Gracie resigned from her China Editor post.
Ms Gracie penned an , citing pay "inequality" as the reason for her departure, on Monday.
Following the letter, Ms Gracie spoke to British media about why she chose to step down from her post in China.
"I am still disappointed by the BBC's response. The BBC talks about a gender pay gap, but what I am talking about is not a gender pay gap, where sometimes men and women are in different roles, which explains the differences of pay," she said on BBC Radio 4 Today.
"What I am talking about is pay discrimination, which is when men are paid more for doing the same job, or a job of equal value.
Journalist Carrie Gracie outside BBC Broadcasting House in London. Source: Press Association
"Now that is illegal and I think it's time the BBC stop being in denial, stop its bunker mentality. Actually negotiate with women on how to solve this problem. Because at the moment good women are getting very frustrated."
Following Ms Gracie's accusations, a spokesperson from the EHRC confirmed to SBS News the organisation will be writing to the BBC so it can require information.
“We are aware of claims by Carrie Gracie of unlawful pay discrimination at the BBC. Women have a legal right to equal pay with men for equal work," a spokesperson said.
“We will be writing to the BBC and requiring them to provide us with information on their pay policy and the facts in this individual case. We will consider whether further action is required based on this information.”
Ms Gracie has received widespread support from the industry and within the BBC, with the 'BBC Women' group releasing a statement demanding the public broadcaster fix its alleged pay inequality.
"We wholeheartedly support her and call on the BBC to resolve her case and others without delay, and to urgently address pay inequality across the corporation," the statement, which has been shared on social media, read.
However, on Monday some BBC reporters were at a crossroads when they found themselves unable to conduct interviews on the topic if they had supported Ms Gracie.
BBC's impartiality rules tell journalists they should not be "exposed to conflicts of interest", and there must be "editorial separation" for those reporting the story, according to the BBC.
This resulted in Presenter Jane Garvey - who tweeted her support after the letter - to not follow through with her interview with Ms Gracie.
SBS News has contacted the Equality and Human Rights Commission for comment.
Ms Gracie following her resignation, citing pay "inequality" as the reason for her departure, on Monday.
She claimed the audience had the right to know that the BBC was allegedly breaking equality law and "resisting pressure for a fair and transparent pay structure," according to the letter published by BuzzFeed.
"On learning the shocking scale of inequality last July, BBC women began to come together to tackle the culture of secrecy that helps perpetuate it," Ms Gracie, who has worked at the BBC for 30 years, wrote.
The BBC published salaries of some of its biggest stars in July, in which Ms Gracie claimed she learned that two men were earning at least "50 per cent more than the two women" in similar roles.
A BBC spokeswoman responded to the letter by saying there was "no systemic discrimination" against women at the organisation.
"A significant number of organisations have now published their gender pay figures showing that we are performing considerably better than many and are well below the national average," a statement read on the BBC.
"Alongside that, we have already conducted a independent judge led audit of pay for rank and file staff which showed 'no systemic discrimination against women'.
"A separate report for on air staff will be published in the not too distant future."
