Barbara has called on the Government to take action to close the gender pay gap. In the North West, women still earn just 82p for every pound earned by a man.

This year, 4th November is Equal Pay Day. It is from this date that women are effectively working unpaid compared to men. Equal pay day is three days earlier than last year because the pay gap has worsened under the Conservative-led Government.

Barbara said:

“It is disturbing that, over 40 years since the Equal Pay Act, women in Salford and across the North West will earn 18% less than men. Under Labour Governments from 1997 to 2010, the pay gap closed by nearly one third. Under the Conservative-led Government, the gender pay gap has got worse. Women working in Salford deserve better.

“The Government must take action and must make achieving equal pay a priority. Labour is committed to ensuring every person is paid fairly. Under a Labour Government big companies will be asked to publish their average hourly pay gap each year to show whether men and women are being paid differently for doing the same work, and whether enough women work in senior jobs in the organisation.”