IT'S time to strengthen equal pay laws, members of general union GMB told MPs today during a rally in Parliament.

The push for legislative improvements came as the union pursues equal pay claims on behalf of tens of thousands of women workers at 24 local authorities across the country.

GMB general secretary Gary Smith told MPs that the law needed strengthening in several key respects to stop gender pay inequality. 

He said: “It’s an utter disgrace working women are still paid less than men for work of equal value, more than 50 years after the Equal Pay Act. 

“As the law stands, the only way to enforce your right is to sue your employer.

“That can take up to 15 years, cost millions of pounds and is exceptionally complicated legally. 

”The current system is not delivering for women and not delivering for the UK.  

“GMB is urging MPs to back our proposed changes to the law, so millions of working people can finally access the equal pay they deserve.” 

Key demands for toughening up the law include a new regulatory and enforcement body, enhanced pay transparency, a reform of the court process to make it faster, fairer and more affordable to those who cannot afford legal bills and closing the outsourcing loophole. 

GMB has long campaigned for changes to the law on equal pay and was instrumental in getting commitments to do so into Labour’s general election manifesto.

A number of local authorities have faced substantial bills for settling equal pay claims by their female employees.

The issue is one of the factors underlying the refuse collection dispute in Birmingham, which involves workers represented by the Unite union.

The government has not indicated whether it is prepared to meet union demands and Chancellor Rachel Reeves is likely to veto any proposal that strains her “ironclad commitment” to the Treasury’s fiscal rules, a stance that is already driving renewed austerity in many public services.