WOMEN are more than twice as likely as men to miss out on statutory sick pay, TUC analysis has shown.

The union federation found that 70 per cent of the 1.3 million people who do not earn the weekly minimum of £123 required to qualify for the payments are women.

According to its analysis of the latest official statistics, 6.5 per cent of women are paid too little to receive statutory sick pay, compared to 2.8 per cent of men.

Black and other ethnic-minority women are the most likely to miss out, with 7 per cent affected.

Zero-hours workers are eight times more likely to be excluded from statutory sick pay than those on secure contracts to as well — 30.3 per cent compared with 3.6 per cent.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Our sick pay system is broken. 

“It’s a national scandal that so many low-paid, insecure workers up and down the country, most of them women, are forced to go without financial support when sick.

“And for those who do get it, it’s not nearly enough to live on. 

“Ministers could have boosted sick pay and made sure everyone got it, but they chose to turn a blind eye to the problem during the pandemic. 

“The failure to provide proper financial support was an act of self-sabotage that left millions brutally exposed to the virus, especially those in low-paid, insecure work.”

Safe Sick Pay campaign director Amanda Walters added: “Women already suffer disproportionately from low pay.

“The UK’s statutory sick pay system is unequal, unfair and ripe for reform.

“By paying a higher weekly amount to every worker from day one, we’ll all see the benefits of a happy, healthy workforce.”