Asda loses supreme court battle over equal pay for workers

This came after claims that distribution workers were paid more than Asda store workers

The supermarket Asda has lost a Supreme Court battle with its workers over claims that those who work in the supermarket's stores should receive the same pay as those who work in Asda's distribution sites. More than 40,000 people who work in the Asda stores, of which approximately two-thirds are women, raised the equal pay claims following complaints made that staff who worked in the distribution depots received more money. The vast majority of those who work in distribution centres are men, it has been reported. Asda bosses have sine said that store jobs are not comparable to jobs in distribution depots. However, the Supreme Court ruled against the supermarket bosses on Friday. The decision means the supermarket giant is now potentially facing a multi-million compensation payout over equal pay discrimination. A spokesperson for Asda said: "This ruling relates to one stage of a complex case that is likely to take several years to reach a conclusion. "We are defending these claims because the pay in our stores and distribution centres is the same for colleagues doing the same jobs regardless of their gender. "Retail and distribution are very different sectors with their own distinct skill sets and pay rates. Asda has always paid colleagues the market rate in these sectors and we remain confident in our case."