Women in Medway are working the equivalent of 107 days for free as a result of the gender pay gap, a report has revealed.

It is the second highest in the county, behind Gravesham, and the ninth highest in the south east.

A report by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) revealed on average the national pay gap between genders is 17.3%, meaning women are working for free for longer, and have to wait 63 days before getting paid.

The south east area has the highest division in the country with a gap of 20.5% between employees, while Medway's gap is 29.4%.

Not far behind The Towns is Dartford, in 21st, Sevenoaks in 30th, Canterbury in 34th, and Swale in 41st.

It means women from the Towns don't get paid until April 17 in comparison to their male counterparts.

TUC regional secretary Sam Gurney said: “Our economy is stacked against working women. At this rate, it will take another 50 years to close the gender pay gap.

"Just publishing gender pay gaps isn't enough..."

“Just publishing gender pay gaps isn’t enough. Companies must be required to explain what steps they’ll take to close their gender pay gaps – and bosses who don’t comply with the law should be fined.

“And employers must do more to help women balance family responsibilities and work. Flexible working should be a day one right for everyone at work."

A recent report from Medway Council revealed male members of staff are paid 12.3% more than their female colleagues which had risen for the second year in a row.

One reason suggested for the continued increase was the "reduction in the workforce recorded on the day of each report year 'snap shot'".

In total there was a reduction of 360 staff at the council since April, with 68% of these people being female.

It was also stated how a higher proportion of female colleagues were working in posts in the lower MedPay pay ranges, which they say contributed to the increase.

Following an employment matters committee meeting in January it was decided a gender pay gap report will be brought to the committee six months prior to publication "with a detailed plan of activity to help close the gap" in future years.

Cllr Naushabah Khan, Labour spokesman for employment, said: "It’s disappointing to hear that Medway is now in the top 10 areas of the south east with the worst gender pay gap.

"It is well known there are very few women in leadership roles in the majority of industries, and women often undertake challenging work which has historically been underpaid and undervalued.

"As an employer, Medway Council should be leading by example but the council’s gender pay gap has increased year on year with no action being taken to address this growing issue.

"This news follows Conservative councillors recently voting for a 14% pay raise for themselves, while hard-working council staff are suffering from yearly real-terms pay cuts.

"It’s an embarrassment that, as an employer, the local authority is letting down some of our most hardworking staff members."

Medway Council's Conservative portfolio holder for resources, Cllr Adrian Gulvin (Con), was unavailable for comment.

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