Fresh calls to tackle gender pay gap

Calls for more action to tackle the gender pay gap are being stepped up amid research showing women are more likely to be in low-paid jobs.

Today is being dubbed Equal Pay Day, when women effectively start working for free for the rest of the year because of the pay difference.

Dawn Butler, shadow minister for women and equalities, said: “The fact that Equal Pay Day has fallen on the same date for three consecutive years shows we still have a very long way to go in the fight for equality.

“This Conservative Government has failed to tackle the underlying structural issues that result in women being paid less than men.”

The Living Wage Foundation said more than one in four jobs filled by women pay below the voluntary living wage, compared with fewer than one in five for men.

A Government Equalities Office spokesman said: “It is positive to see the national gender pay gap has gone down this year, however, there is still more work to be done by employers if we are to close the gap entirely.”