Welsh councils have been accused of lagging well behind the rest of the UK in achieving equal pay for female workers.

Carmarthenshire Council came under fire this week when it emerged that they may face a bill of up to £15m from a potential group equal pay claim brought forward by Welsh women.

9,000 employees have lodged individual settlements worth up to £20,000, claiming six years pay from the date their claim was submitted.

Legal experts have claimed that equal pay legislation is not being implemented by Welsh councils, while trade union groups are favouring the plights of men rather than women.

Stuart Hill, of legal firm Stefan Cross, said: "Wales is way, way behind the situation in England and Scotland in terms of implementation of pay structures."

"Unions and councils committed themselves to achieving equal pay under the single status agreement back in 1997. Both have proved unwilling or unable to provide justice, meanwhile thousands have lost out in lower wages and pensions."

Councils over the UK have paid out more than £500m in similar cases in the past five years. Eight of Wales' 22 local authorities have struck pay deals in that time, with negotiations ongoing in others.

William O'Neill Head of the Litigation Department at Rowlands Solicitors believes that:  "in today's society there is no excuse for any employer failing to recognise the right to equal pay of men and women.  Such a failure may be seen to symbolise and unwillingness to change.

Those people who lose out and suffer as a result of such an unwillingness to modernise and co-operate should highlight this inefficiency by bringing it into the spotlight and ensuring that they feel that they have achieved justice.  The people who have suffered should also reserve the right to be automatically compensated."

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) have refuted the claims, accusing legal experts of ignoring the extensive work Welsh councils have undertaken on equal pay issues.

"Councils have dealt with this issue since the onset of the first claims in 2003 and will work with the trade unions locally to agree fair and final settlements," said WLGA Chief Executive, Steve Thomas.