TOP Tory ministers allegedly advised outsourcing companies in government ministries to pay less than the living wage, a union claimed yesterday.

Civil Service union (PCS), which represents workers hired by contractors Engie and Aramark, alleges that the firms were told by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to align the pay of their staff with the private-sector average across London.

PCS says the recommendation was made during ongoing pay negotiations with union reps to secure the London Living Wage of £10.55 for the department’s workers.

Strike action is likely to continue, the union warned, if ministers do not intervene to change pay and conditions.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “Our members are being betrayed by a department more interested in keeping costs down than paying staff who do vital work a proper London living wage.

“These revelations show what a total failure outsourcing has proven to be.”

The BEIS had not responded to requests for comment at the time of going to press.