The complaint alleges that around 12,000 women could have been paid less than their male counterparts. Credit: oasisamuel/shutterstock.

Apple is facing a class action lawsuit alleging a significant pay gap between its male and female employees in California. 

The lawsuit represents around 12,000 women employees of Apple who are reported to be paid less than their male counterparts in similar roles in engineering, marketing and AppleCare. 

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The complaint, filed by law firm Altschuler Berzon LLP, stated that Apple was placing its female workers at an immediate disadvantage by using salary expectations to set starting salary. 

By asking for prior pay to set starting salary, Apple is accused of perpetuating past pay gaps and not taking action to mediate this disparity. 

This practice also goes against Californian regulations that ban questions regarding a job candidate’s salary history in an attempt to close gender and race wage gaps. This regulation was passed in 2017. 

Eve Cervantez, a lawyer representing the case, said the use of salary expectations was a “no win situation” for Apple’s female employees. 

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Apple has responded to the case stating that it was committed to equal pay. 

“Since 2017, Apple has achieved and maintained gender pay equity and every year we partner with an independent third-party expert to examine each team member’s total compensation and make adjustments, where necessary, to ensure that we maintain pay equity,” its statement read.