Lauren Lougheed, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day, expressed satisfaction with the ruling for the majority of workers, while also voicing disappointment for those roles that were not recognized as equal.

Leigh Day, representing over 60,000 workers, is contemplating an appeal on behalf of those excluded roles.

This case is significant as it compares predominantly female store roles with predominantly male distribution roles, and is viewed as a landmark for gender pay equality.

The tribunal favored 12 out of 14 lead claimants, who sought to establish equal value for their work compared to warehouse jobs, covering the period from August 2008 to June 2014.

Unions estimate that the ruling could result in collective back pay amounting to up to £1.2 billion for the affected staff.

Asda plans to contest the claims in the next phase of litigation, arguing that retail and distribution operate under distinct market rates and pay structures.

Asda employs over 127,000 shop floor workers across approximately 1,200 stores in the UK, highlighting the scale of the potential impact of this ruling.

A recent tribunal ruling has determined that the majority of shop workers at Asda hold roles of 'equal value to higher-paid positions' in the company's warehouses, marking a significant advancement towards pay equality.

The tribunal found that personal shoppers and shop floor assistants for edible grocery were not deemed equal to warehouse roles, impacting about 20% of all claims.

This decision brings tens of thousands of Asda store workers closer to potential payouts following the employment tribunal's judgment.

The ruling indicates that the claimants have successfully navigated two of the three stages of their equal pay claim, despite setbacks concerning two specific job roles.