A CALL has been made for more women in Lancashire to be paid the living wage.

The TUC said that seeing more employers paying the living wage would help ‘tackle the growing scourge of in-work poverty and make big inroads into closing what it sees as the scandalous 34 per cent part-time gender pay gap.’ Lynn Collins, North West TUC regional secretary, said: “In-work poverty is growing throughout the North West and it’s often women that bear the brunt of low pay.

“The living wage was created so that work can provide staff with a basic standard of living. But in places like West Lancashire and Pendle, most women working part-time are way off earning this.

“But they aren’t the only ones and the figures show that much more can be done across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.

“Women would gain most from a greater take-up of the living wage by employers. Councils can lead the way by becoming living wage employers themselves.”