WOMEN in Warrington are effectively working for an entire month without pay due to the disparity between male and female salaries.

Figures suggest that women in Warrington earn more than 10 per cent less than men in the town.

Comparative to male pay, this means that women across the town are working for a month with no wages.

Statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that - excluding overtime - the average woman in Warrington works for £17.17 per hour, whereas men earn £19.30 per hour.

This is a gender pay gap of 11.1 per cent.

In other words, by December 31 this year, women will have effectively worked since November 21 without pay.

Nationally, the pay gap is consistent with what is seen in Warrington - across the UK, women earn an average of 11.3 per cent less than average male pay.

Women's rights charity the Fawcett Society said progress in reducing the gender pay gap is too slow, and called on the Government to introduce measures to help women into higher-paying work, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.

Jemima Olchawski, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: "Progress on tackling the gender pay gap is too slow and evidence continues to stack up that women want to see more being done.

"In the context of labour market shortages and the cost-of-living crisis, we really can’t afford not to act.

"We urgently need action from both the Government and employers."

In part-time work, women in Warrington earn 23 per cent more than their male counterparts - nationally, the gap between part-time workers is at 0.2 per cent.

The Government's Equality Hub said the overall trend of the national gender pay gap has decreased over time since 1997.

A spokesperson added that the Government has introduced legislation for the right to flexible working, shared parental leave and pay, and doubling free childcare.