The Cost of Working: Calls for fair pay for disabled workers
New research by the TUC has been released.
Last updated 23rd Nov 2023
We're hearing from a disabled rights campaigner from York - who says the disability pay gap needs to be closed immediately.
It's after new research suggest disabled workers suffer a pay gap of £1.90 an hour compared with other employees.
The TUC said its study indicated that non-disabled workers earn around a sixth more than disabled workers.
Marilyn Crawshaw is from the York Disability Rights Forum and says;
"In order for there to be equity, then there are some things that disabled people may need, that are simply not being met.
"Disabled people have a really poor deal when it comes to employment conditions. They often find themselves in low paid work because there are big problems with employers providing the right sort of conditions for disabled people to enter and remain in the job market."
The difference is estimated at £3,460 a year for someone working a 35-hour week, which the TUC said means that disabled people effectively work for free for the last 47 days of the year, so they stop getting paid from Tuesday November 14.
The highest pay gaps were said to be in Wales (21.6% or £2.53 an hour), the South East (19.8% or £2.78 an hour) and the East of England (17.7% or £2.30 an hour).
The biggest pay gap is in financial and industrial services, where the gap is 33.2% (£5.60 an hour).
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said:
"We all deserve to be paid fairly for the work we do but disabled people continue to be valued less in our jobs market.
"It's shameful there has been zero progress on the disability pay gap in the last decade.
"Being disabled shouldn't mean you are given a lower wage - or left out of the jobs market altogether.
"Too many disabled people are held back at work, not getting the reasonable adjustments they need to do their jobs.
"We need to strengthen the benefits system for those who are unable to work or are out of work, so they are not left in poverty."
All this week we've been exploring the cost of working and how getting a job can be expensive and sometimes not cover all the bills
You can read more about our series here
A government spokesperson said:
“The cost of living payments have provided a significant financial boost to millions of households - just one part of the record £94 billion support package we have provided to help with the rising cost of bills.
“This includes an increase to the National Living Wage, the biggest ever expansion of free childcare for working parents worth an average £6,500 a year for a working family.
We’re also investing £3.5 billion to help thousands into jobs – the best way to secure financial security in the long-term.