Workers with disabilities earn £3,700 less a year than their non-disabled peers, new analysis shows.
Research by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) found the disability pay gap has risen to 17.2%, amounting to £2.05 per hour - or £3,731 a year - for someone working a 35 hour week.
The gulf in pay means that disabled people effectively work for free for the last 54 days of the year and stop getting paid today.
Disabled women fare worst, with non-disabled men paid 35% more than disabled women on average.
This breaks down to a staggering gap of £3.93 an hour, or £7,144 a year.
General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Being disabled should not mean you’re on a lower wage – or that you’re excluded from the jobs market altogether.
"It's time to introduce mandatory disability pay gap reporting to shine a light on inequality at work. Without this, millions of disabled workers will be consigned to years of lower pay and in-work poverty.
“During the pandemic, many disabled people were able to work flexibly or from home for the first time. We must ensure this continues – flexible workplaces are accessible workplaces and give everyone better work life balance.
"Ministers must change the law so that all jobs are advertised with flexible options clearly stated, and all workers have the legal right to work flexibly from their first day in a job.”
The research found the highest pay gaps are in the South East (22% or £2.78 an hour), and the West Midlands and the South West (both 17% or £2.20 an hour).
People working in financial and industrial services are worst affected, where the pay gap stands at 39% or £5.90 an hour, followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (24%), mining and quarrying, and admin and support services (both 18%).
The TUC has today written to Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch to call for urgent action to address the disability pay gap.
The Mirror launched its Disabled Britain campaign to amplify the voices of disabled people.
