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Motherhood can 'treble pay gap'

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Shortage of midwives causing problem for women in labour

Women in their thirties earn three times less than their male counterparts, owing to a 'motherhood penalty', new research suggests.

Women at every age earned less than men but the gap was smallest for twentysomethings.

Once women hit their thirties, they earn as much as 11% less than men and the figure rose to over 20% for women between the ages of 50 and 59.

The TUC study also revealed that women are twice as likely as men to be poor.

TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber commented: 'We all expect out wages to increase as our careers progress.

'Women's wages start to stagnate as early as their 30s and many are paying an unacceptable penalty for having children.

'Too many employers are still failing to make use of women's skills. This waste of talent isn't just hurting their take-home pay, it's harming the economy, too.'

Women's minister, Harriet Harman, explained the gender pay gap had decreased from 17% to 12% over the last ten years. She commented: 'I just don't believe women are less committed, less hard-working or less able than men. So they shouldn't be paid less.'