AROUND 140,000 low-paid female workers across Scotland would be better off under a Labour government, according to the party’s deputy leader Angela Rayner.

Ms Rayner made the remarks as she joined Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on the campaign trail today to promote the party’s New Deal for Workers.

The policy was pioneered by the Communication Workers Union and later adopted by the TUC, STUC and Labour.

But despite recent criticism from Unite that the party was watering down key aspects, Ms Rayner insisted plans to ban “exploitative” zero-hours contracts, fire and rehire, and deliver a “genuine living wage” would secure a pay boost for over 100,000 women in Scotland.

“When the Tories crashed the economy, it was women who were left to pick up the pieces,” she said.

“From mums juggling work and childcare to those working as cleaners, carers and others in predominantly female, low-paid jobs, women in Scotland have been failed by two incompetent governments.

“This cannot go on — Labour will tackle the scourge of insecure work ensuring 140,000 of the lowest-paid female workers in Scotland benefit from a genuine living wage that will for the first time take into account the cost of living.”

Urging women to back Scottish Labour at next week’s poll, Mr Sarwar added: “For too long women across Scotland have been forced to pay the price for political failure — from Tory economic vandalism to SNP incompetence.

“Labour’s transformative New Deal For Working People will tackle low pay and insecure work, delivering a genuine living wage and ending exploitative zero-hours contracts.

“We cannot afford another five years of Tory chaos — we need to make sure we take this opportunity to elect a Labour government with women’s interests at its heart.”