The U.S. Department of Labor sued JPMorgan Chase & Co. for allegedly paying several female IT employees less than their male counterparts over the last nearly five years.

The lawsuit, based on an Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs compliance review, was filed with the Labor Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges. The study found that since at least May 15, 2012, JPMorgan paid at least 93 female employees in certain application developer lead, project manager and technology director roles within the Investment Bank, Technology & Market Strategies unit less than male employees who had similar posts. Labor also alleges that the company did not evaluate the compensation systems applicable to the employees.

Labor is seeking permanent injunctions that would require JPMorgan to comply with the requirements of Executive Order 11246 (anti-gender discrimination law for employees of federal contractors) and prohibit discriminating against female employees in compensation. The department also wants the company to provide complete relief for the affected class including lost pay, interest, salary adjustments and all other lost benefits of employment.

In a statement sent to S&P Global Market Intelligence, JPMorgan said it is "committed to diversity in the workplace" and was "disappointed" by the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs' decision to file a complaint, despite working with the office to resolve any concerns. The company added that it looks forward to presenting its evidence to a neutral decisionmaker.