East Lothian Council is paying out compensation awards of up to £11,858 to female employees as part of a £5.3m equal pay settlement.
The money is being offered to 700 workers – including cleaners, cooks, leisure assistants, home helps, and toilet attendants – who did not received the same bonus payments their male counterparts.
Council leader Norman Murray said: “Equal pay is currently a huge issue for councils across Scotland. I am delighted that we have now come up with an offer to compensate for retrospective equal pay rights.”
Last week, local authorities warned the Scottish Executive that huge equal pay bills could lead to rises in council tax.
But council chiefs in East Lothian stress that this payment will not result in any additional council tax or cuts in services.
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