Gender wage divide: Women will have to wait another 60 years for equal pay

Gloria De Piero is set to publish figures showing women still earn just 80p for every pound men take home.

17:56 08 August 2014

Shadow minister for women and equalities Gloria De Piero warned that if the gender wage gap continues to close at the same rate, women will have to wait for another 60 years for equal pay.

The former journalist and TV presenter is set to publish figures showing women still earn just 80p for every pound men take home.

The figures, which were released by the House of Commons library, also indicate that the pay gap has closed at a rate of just 0.3per cent per year since 2010. With the current difference of 19.7per cent, it could take 60 years for women to get equal pay.

De Piero said: “Women should not have to wait more than 100 years for equal pay.

“The Tories are turning the clock back for women. More women are struggling to make work pay, earning less than the living wage and facing sky-high childcare costs. This isn’t the progress our mothers, aunties and sisters fought for.

“When David Cameron claims that working women have never had it so good, women know this isn’t a government that speaks for them. Only Labour will deliver on the promise of equal pay with pay transparency, tackle the scandal of low pay and expand access to free childcare to make work pay for families across Britain.

“Next May there is a big choice for women across this country. A Tory Britain with progress on equality stalled, more women on low wages, on zero-hours contracts and earning less than their male colleagues. Or a Labour future that will deliver on the promise of equal pay, tackling the scandal of low pay and delivering affordable childcare for families.”