Outrage as pay gap between men and women grows
The gap in pay between men and women has significantly increased, according to the latest official statistics.
The Office of National Statistics (ONS) annual salary report showed the gender pay gap increased from 9.5% in 2012 to ten per cent in 2013.
"This year has seen a shock rise in the gender pay gap after years of slow, steady progress. Ministers should be ashamed of presiding over this latest dismal record on pay," TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said.
"The light touch, voluntary approach to tackling gender pay inequality is clearly failing. We need tougher action to force companies look at their pay gaps."
Ironically, women's full times earnings actually rose more than men's, going up by 2.2% to £459 a week, compared to 1.8% to £556 for men.
The figures also showed a stratification of high and low wages, with more workers shifting to one end or the other.
Ten per cent of full time employees earned less than £7.28 an hour – in increase of 1.5% on last year.
At the other end of distribution, ten per cent of full time employees earned more than £27.02 an hour – also a 1.5% increase.
The median gross annual earnings for full time employees is now £27,000, an increase of 2.1% on 2012.
