A leading civil service union has warned that a national pay framework is essential to eradicate pay inequalities in the public sector.

The PCS union has expressed alarm at the failure of government departments and agencies to submit equal pay action plans ahead of next week's deadline.

Departments had been given a year to draw up the frameworks - but to date just 19 out of 93 have done so.

Union chief Mark Serwotka said the failure to submit action plans will affect the 2003 pay bargaining round.

Calling for a national pay framework, Serwotka said he was appalled that so few department had submitted their equal pay action plans.

"Even though those departments and agencies who have submitted account for half the civil service we still have grave concerns about just how seriously some departments and agencies are taking the issue," he said.

"There is still an issue of the top jobs in civil service being dominated by men and of women and people from ethnic minorities being limited to the lower paid jobs and there is currently a 27 per cent gap between the median salaries of male and female full-time workers across the civil service."

He warned that government had a duty to send out an equal pay message to all employers.

"The issue of pay equality is something the government is looking to lead by example on," said Serwotka.

"Equal pay reviews are an important step and one all employers need to take if pay inequality is to be addressed."