Widening pay gap hits disabled workers

Disabled workers earn almost £2 an hour less than their non-disabled colleagues according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a pay gap that has widened significantly over the last eight years.

The ONS analysis shows that, on average, disabled workers are paid £1.93 per hour less than non-disabled employees, a difference of £3,500 a year based on a 35-hour week.

The difference stood at 11.7% in 2014 but has widened to 13.8%, prompting the TUC to call for mandatory pay gap reporting for all employers with more than 50 workers. The union body also wants the Equality and Human Rights Commission to have specific funding to enforce disabled workers’ rights.

Higher proportions in part-time or low paid work, along with unlawful discrimination, structural barriers and negative attitudes are among the reasons cited for lower disabled workers’ pay.