TUC: UK Women Work Nearly Seven Weeks Unpaid Due to 13.1% Gender Pay Gap

A recent analysis by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) reveals that the ongoing gender pay gap in the UK, currently at 13.1%, means women effectively worked unpaid for nearly seven weeks this year. Women's Pay Day, marking when women stop working for free compared to men, fell on February 16, 2025. The pay gap is particularly pronounced in finance and insurance, where women work unpaid for 109 days due to a staggering 29.8% gap, while in health and social care, the gap is 11.2%, equating to 41 days. The TUC also highlights that the gender pay gap widens with age, reaching 18.9% for women aged 50 to 59, largely due to unpaid caring responsibilities. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak calls for the Employment Rights Bill to address these disparities, proposing measures such as banning zero-hours contracts and enforcing fair pay agreements. The analysis underscores the persistent nature of the pay gap, with little progress toward parity expected until 2040 if current trends continue.