Some 80,000 civil servants are staging a 48-hour walk out in protest over pay.

Staff at the Department for Work and Pensions have begun industrial action over a three-year pay deal, which unions say will result in a pay freeze for 40 per cent of workers.

The Public and Commercial Services union predicted that Thursday's strike - which involves jobcentre, benefit office and pensions workers - would cause "significant disruption".

General secretary Mark Serwotka said DWP staff were angry at the pay settlement, which was worth an average of one per cent a year.

Despite awarding total pay bonuses of £39m, he said the lowest paid would only receive £340, with senior employees getting £3,000.

"This is a dispute the government and the department could have avoided," he said.

"But instead they have provoked staff into strike action by imposing poverty pay on a workforce that has already experienced massive job cuts.

"It is completely unacceptable that some of the lowest paid in the civil service are receiving increases that take their pay to just 24 pence above the minimum wage and that staff who have stuck with the DWP through thick and thin are expected to receive nothing next year."

The union also warned that there could be pay disputes in the Home Office and among civilian staff in the Metropolitan Police.

"Staff will not sit back and be allowed to be used by the government as an anti-inflationary tool, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that their pay fuels inflation," Serwotka added.

A DWP spokesman said the department was "disappointed that PCS has decided to call this action".

"DWP will do everything necessary to minimise disruption to our customers and we are confident that our services and payments will be maintained," he said.

"The pay award we have implemented is a good one which particularly benefits our lowest paid staff and those at the lower end of their pay scales.

"This three-year pay award provides a good deal for the majority of our employees.

"For those employees lower down the pay scales, during the next three years the minimum pay increase they will see is three per cent a year.

"Many of the lowest paid at the bottom of the pay scale will be getting, on average, more than five per cent a year."