Newly released figures have shown that the gender pay gap at  one of Medway’s biggest employers is larger than the national average.

Women at Medway Council earn an average of 10.63% less than their male co-workers. The current national average sits at 6.8%.

The figures were revealed at the Employment Matters meeting that was held at the end of January. In the meeting, some councillors were blaming the pay gap on the pay system used, called Medpay.

It works by offering performance related bonuses to staff at the end of the working year.

Medway Labour have been calling for the system to be reviewed for years and the council, at one stage, had agreed to carry out a review. However, councillors voted against having the independent review.

Medway Labour leader, councillor Vince Maple said: “It is very disappointing to see the report that we saw in employment matters recently on the issue of the gender pay gap increasing at Medway Council.

“What is particularly frustrating is one of the things we think leads to that is the performance related pay system they have called Medpay.

“We have been calling for an independent review in December the cross party committee voted in favour of having the review. When the scope of the review came back the council voted against it.

“They have gone through a bizarre process of saying we need to review it and now we don’t. It makes the council look ludicrous.

” I am concerned that we have a discriminatory performance related pay system and until we have it independently we won’t know if that is true or false.

“The system is based on individuals annual appraisals but there may be a number of factors that impact on this.”

Medway Council have been contacted for comment.