Heavyweight UK supermarket Asda have had to respond to more than 9,500 of their female staff who have complained that they are paid between £1 and £3 less per hour than their male counterparts who work in the company warehouses and distribution facilities.

A tribunal ruled that female staff can now compare themselves to their higher paid male colleagues. It was found that Asda could have easily arranged for all staff to receive equal pay but had chosen not to. Representatives for Asda argued that due to the warehouses and distribution centres being in different areas to the retail stores they were able to offer the differing pay scales.

A spokesperson for Asda commented: 'At Asda, hourly-paid colleagues doing the same job in the same location are paid the same. Men and women doing the same job in our retail stores are paid the same.

'Men and women doing the same job in our distribution centres are paid the same. Pay rates in stores differ from pay rates in distribution centres for legitimate reasons, including the different market rates for different jobs in different sectors.'

The next part of the tribunal will consider whether the jobs that men and women do are equal in terms of their demands.

This case is sure to create implications to other large supermarkets as there are apparently similar problems at some branches of Sainsbury’s.

If you have experienced problems with the pay you receive please contact a Lawson-West employment solicitor. Vaishali Thakerar and Sejal Patel are available on 0116 212 1000. You can reach Ashley Hunt and Carrie-Ann Randall on 01858 445 480.