EMLOYERS have a vital role to play in ending women’s financial inequality and paying the living wage is one step that they can take.

That’s the message from Zero Tolerance, a small charity which campaigns to end men’s violence against women by addressing the issues which allow gender based violence to exist.

“Our vision at Zero Tolerance is one of a world free from violence against women and girls,” said co-director Rachel Adamson. “This vision cannot be accomplished until women are equal to men, socially, politically and crucially, financially. The living wage is important to us at Zero Tolerance not only as part of our mission to prevent violence against women, but also as an expression the feminist values of our organisation.”

Despite measures to improve women’s salaries and opportunities, a gender pay gap remains. Twice as many women rely on benefits and tax credits as men. Women make up 95 per cent of lone parents dependent on income support. Women earn 13 per cent less than men as full time workers and 32 per cent less than men when part time work is taken into consideration. Occupations which are dominated by women such as the caring professions are often low-paid and undervalued.

This wage gap has implications that reach far beyond women’s bank balances, according to Zero Tolerance.

Research by the Refuge charity found that 89 per cent of the women they surveyed experienced financial abuse as part of their experience of domestic abuse. “Financial abuse can take many forms – being prevented from earning or accessing your own money; having your money spent without consent; having debts built up in your name; having your possessions or property damaged. Women with children might have their child maintenance payments withheld,” Adamson explained.

Although violence can affect any woman regardless of their income, women are more likely to work for lower pay, to work part time or unpaid as a carer, all factors which can lead them to be financially dependent on someone else.

Adamson said: “This creates a significant financial barrier for women who need to leave an abusive partner. For many women, the choice may be a stark one: stay with an abusive partner or risk homelessness. Poverty can also make women vulnerable to other forms of violence such as commercial sexual exploitation.”

Zero Tolerance works with the Scottish Government, women’s and men’s organisations, individuals and communities, schools, the media and others to address the causes of violence against women, and bring about change.

There are currently six staff members working a mixture of full and part time hours at their Edinburgh office, including one intern.

Zero Tolerance became Scottish Accredited Living Wage employers in August 2015. Staff members, interns and contractors are all paid at least the living wage.

Since it was launched in April 2014, more than 600 organisations in Scotland have signed up to the scheme to become accredited as official living wage employers, giving their workers at least £8.45 per hour.