[UK] More than 3 million disabled workers earn less than £15 per hour

Analysis from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of disabled workers in the UK earn less than £15 an hour, TUC reports.

The new analysis of official statistics was published by the TUC On December 7, during disability history month. It showed that 3.09 million disabled workers around the UK are paid under the median wage of around £15 an hour. 

Around half (54 per cent) of non-disabled workers are reportedly paid less than this amount. 

The TUC stated that disabled workers are over-represented in low-paid work and said the new increase in the minimum wage announced in the Chancellor’s autumn statement goes nowhere near far enough in lifting workers out of poverty. 

Regional and industrial analysis 

In addition, the new analysis revealed that in some parts of the country an even greater number of disabled workers earn less than £15 an hour. 

More than four in five disabled workers in the West Midlands (85 per cent) and the North East (82 per cent) reportedly earn an hourly wage of less than £15, compared to around three in five (58 per cent and 64 per cent) of non-disabled workers in those regions. 

The TUC said the majority of disabled people are paid less than £15 an hour in some particular industries. Nine in 10 disabled workers in wholesale, retail, repair of vehicles (94 per cent) and arts, entertainment and recreation (89 per cent) are paid less than £15. 

Zero-hours contracts 

The TUC analysis showed that disabled workers are more likely than non-disabled workers to be employed on a zero-hours contract (4.4 per cent compared to 2.9 per cent) with no guarantee of shifts from one week to the next. 

Zero-hours contracts hand the employer total control over their workers’ hours and earning power, according to the union body. Therefore workers never know how much they will earn each week leaving their income subject to the whims of managers. 

The TUC stated that this makes it hard for workers to plan their lives, look after their children and attend medical appointments. 

It also makes it harder for workers to challenge unacceptable behaviour by bosses because of concerns about whether they will be penalised by losing working hours in future. 

Unemployment 

Disabled workers are also more likely to be excluded from the job market altogether. 

The analysis showed that they are now twice as likely as non-disabled workers to be unemployed (6.8 per cent compared to 3.4 per cent).   

Last month, the TUC published analysis revealing the widening of the pay gap between non-disabled and disabled workers. The gap is now reportedly 17.2 per cent, or £3,700 a year. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said, “We all deserve a decent job with decent pay. Being disabled should not mean you’re employed on a lower wage or on worse terms and conditions.   

“As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, many disabled workers are struggling to get by. 

“We already know disabled people face higher living expenses than non-disabled people. And now they're being pushed to the brink with eye-watering bills and are having to choose whether to put food on the table or pay their bills. 

“Ministers announced the absolute bare minimum on the national minimum wage and universal credit in the Autumn statement. With living costs soaring, we need to ensure that everyone has enough to get by. 

“Let’s put an end to low-pay Britain and get to a £15 per hour minimum wage as soon as possible. 

“And it’s also past time to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting to shine a light on inequality at work. Without this, millions of disabled workers will be consigned to years of lower pay and in-work poverty.” 

Government action needed 

The TUC is calling for the minimum wage to be raised to £15 an hour as soon as possible, to address low pay. The union body set out a roadmap back in August to a £15 an hour minimum wage and a high-wage economy. 

To further support disabled workers, the TUC is asking the UK government to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting for all employers with more than 50 employees. 

It says the legislation should be accompanied by a duty on employers to produce action plans identifying the steps they will take to address any gaps identified.  

Source: TUC

(Quotes via original reporting)

Analysis from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has revealed that nearly three-quarters (72 per cent) of disabled workers in the UK earn less than £15 an hour, TUC reports.

The new analysis of official statistics was published by the TUC On December 7, during disability history month. It showed that 3.09 million disabled workers around the UK are paid under the median wage of around £15 an hour. 

Around half (54 per cent) of non-disabled workers are reportedly paid less than this amount. 

The TUC stated that disabled workers are over-represented in low-paid work and said the new increase in the minimum wage announced in the Chancellor’s autumn statement goes nowhere near far enough in lifting workers out of poverty. 

Regional and industrial analysis 

In addition, the new analysis revealed that in some parts of the country an even greater number of disabled workers earn less than £15 an hour. 

More than four in five disabled workers in the West Midlands (85 per cent) and the North East (82 per cent) reportedly earn an hourly wage of less than £15, compared to around three in five (58 per cent and 64 per cent) of non-disabled workers in those regions. 

The TUC said the majority of disabled people are paid less than £15 an hour in some particular industries. Nine in 10 disabled workers in wholesale, retail, repair of vehicles (94 per cent) and arts, entertainment and recreation (89 per cent) are paid less than £15. 

Zero-hours contracts 

The TUC analysis showed that disabled workers are more likely than non-disabled workers to be employed on a zero-hours contract (4.4 per cent compared to 2.9 per cent) with no guarantee of shifts from one week to the next. 

Zero-hours contracts hand the employer total control over their workers’ hours and earning power, according to the union body. Therefore workers never know how much they will earn each week leaving their income subject to the whims of managers. 

The TUC stated that this makes it hard for workers to plan their lives, look after their children and attend medical appointments. 

It also makes it harder for workers to challenge unacceptable behaviour by bosses because of concerns about whether they will be penalised by losing working hours in future. 

Unemployment 

Disabled workers are also more likely to be excluded from the job market altogether. 

The analysis showed that they are now twice as likely as non-disabled workers to be unemployed (6.8 per cent compared to 3.4 per cent).   

Last month, the TUC published analysis revealing the widening of the pay gap between non-disabled and disabled workers. The gap is now reportedly 17.2 per cent, or £3,700 a year. 

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said, “We all deserve a decent job with decent pay. Being disabled should not mean you’re employed on a lower wage or on worse terms and conditions.   

“As the cost-of-living crisis intensifies, many disabled workers are struggling to get by. 

“We already know disabled people face higher living expenses than non-disabled people. And now they're being pushed to the brink with eye-watering bills and are having to choose whether to put food on the table or pay their bills. 

“Ministers announced the absolute bare minimum on the national minimum wage and universal credit in the Autumn statement. With living costs soaring, we need to ensure that everyone has enough to get by. 

“Let’s put an end to low-pay Britain and get to a £15 per hour minimum wage as soon as possible. 

“And it’s also past time to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting to shine a light on inequality at work. Without this, millions of disabled workers will be consigned to years of lower pay and in-work poverty.” 

Government action needed 

The TUC is calling for the minimum wage to be raised to £15 an hour as soon as possible, to address low pay. The union body set out a roadmap back in August to a £15 an hour minimum wage and a high-wage economy. 

To further support disabled workers, the TUC is asking the UK government to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting for all employers with more than 50 employees. 

It says the legislation should be accompanied by a duty on employers to produce action plans identifying the steps they will take to address any gaps identified.  

Source: TUC

(Quotes via original reporting)