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Essential public services are relying on staff doing £11billion worth of unpaid overtime a year, a study shows.

Nearly two million workers, such as midwives, nurses, social workers and teaching assistants, are regularly doing eight hours’ free work a week.

GMB union’s analysis of Government statistics comes days after Chancellor Philip Hammond claimed public sector staff were overpaid, despite seven years of pay cuts under the Tories.

GMB’s Rehana Azam said: “Public services are held tog­­ether by the devotion of overworked and under-appreciated employees, who are effectively handing the Government £11billion worth of labour for free.”

If paid for the eight hours, the 1.8 million workers would get an average £6,000 – a 24% pay rise.

(Image: Photononstop RM)

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The study also found one in 20 usually did 15 or more extra hours a week, with public sector staff almost twice as likely to do unpaid overtime as private sector employees. Midwives did the most.

A total of 412,000 public sector jobs have been cut since 2010, piling more pressure on school, hospital and emergency staff.

Ms Azam added: “Ministers think they can push staff indefinitely, but low pay, unmanageable workloads and stress are pushing many of our members to the limit.”