LONDON Black and Asian workers are paid far less than their white counterparts and government action must be taken to address the problem, the Trade Union Congress has reported.

In a new report the union says Pakistani and Bangladeshi men earn pnds 150 per week less than white men, while the difference is pnds 115 for Caribbean men and pnds 116 for Africans.

It also shows black and Asian women earn pnds 7 per week more than white women - but says this is because they are more likely to work full-time.

The TUC says race relations laws should be extended, to compel all private and voluntary sector employers to promote good race relations in their organisations, according to the BBC.

But the Commission for Racial Equality was more cautious on a change in legislation.

Deputy Chair Beverley Bernard told BBC Radio 4's today program the figures were "startling" but "mixed", and she would like to find out more before addressing the question of legislation.

In the meantime, she said, disgruntled workers had two options to tackle pay discrimination.

"Workers could join together under the same organization to challenge this under the employment tribunal.

"Two, if there is sufficient evidence that discrimination is consistently going on in any organization, the cre is obliged to look at formal investigations."

The study, black and underpaid, is launched to coincide with the tuc's black workers' conference, which opens in southport on Friday.

The TUC says the government should also encourage employers to regularly monitor pay data to ensure equality.

Apart from direct racial discrimination, the tuc says black and Asian workers suffer because they are trapped in low-paid jobs and economic sectors like textiles.

It highlights the effect of language problems, and the effect of being concentrated in deprived areas with a dependence on public transport.

The TUC argues it is wrong that only public sector employers are currently forced to promote good race relations at work.