Women in the UK will still have the right to receive equal pay with men when an EU protection lapses at the end of this year, the Conservative government has confirmed.

The so-called single source test allowed workers to compare their roles with other staff working in a different establishment so long as the terms and conditions of the job were attributable to a “single source” with the power to correct a difference in pay.

The test aimed to protect women who work for outsourcing companies or those employed in different locations but doing similar jobs.