The Labour leader has pledged to help low paid workers, with a plan for jobs and wages to end inequality and boost the minimum wage.

Ed Miliband confirmed plans to increase the minimum wage to over £8 an hour over the next five years, saying it would give low paid workers a rise of £3,000 a year.

He told his party's annual conference in Manchester: "One in five workers find themselves on low pay. That should shame us all."

One of the goals of a Labour government would be to halve the number of people on low pay by 2025, "transforming" the lives of two million people.

"The Tories are the party of wealth and privilege - Labour is the party of hard work, fairly paid."

Mr Miliband said all workers should share in the country's wealth, adding that wages should grow at the same rate as the economy.

"It is amazing that that statement is even controversial. That is what the cost of living crisis is all about."

The Labour leader also pledged to fight for equal rights for the five million self employed workers, saying two out of three do not have a pension, and one in five can not get a mortgage.

Mr Miliband said wages had fallen behind prices for 50 out of the last 51 months.

Unions will be pleased by Mr Miliband's pledges on tackling low pay, although want a higher minimum wage brought in sooner than over five years and will continue to press for tougher action on zero hours contracts.