Employers who continually discriminate against women could face tougher regulation in the future. The government is planning a crack down on those firms who do not award equal pay as a matter of course.

The Government wants to amend the Equal Pay Act to make it easier and faster for underpaid working women to take their cases to tribunals.

Tribunals will be urged to use an assessor for expert advice instead of seeking a formal report from an independent expert.

If more than one woman challenges a firm, their cases will be heard jointly.