Welsh Women Suffer In-Work Poverty

28 August 2014, 17:18 | Updated: 28 August 2014, 17:20

It's claimed that earning less than the living wage is now the "norm" for women who have part-time jobs

A study from the TUC has found more than half in some areas of Wales suffer in-work poverty.

Women in Flintshire are worse off with around 60% being paid less than the living wage last year.

In Blaenau Gwent this was the case for 59.1%, with 53.3% in Conwy, 51.5% in Bridgend and 48.3% on Anglesey.

In the capital, just 37.9% of women were earning less.

The figures come just a week after it was revealed there's a gender pay gap of nearly £4000 in management jobs in the UK.

Natasha Davies from Chwarae Teg - a charity calling for equality in the workplace - says women face a lot of barriers:

"Women are more likely to work in low-paid part-time roles in areas like care, catering and administration."

"There's a perception that we're carers first and earners second".

The TUC says many women feel "trapped" and that they can't obtain a basic standard of living.

Natasha tells Heart employers need to understand that they'll benefit if workers are given equal pay:

"They can recruit, retain and develop staff drawn from the widest possible talent pool and provide an optimum, gender-balanced workforce"

"Closing the pay gap should be top priority and employers play a key role in achieving this".