Today Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation published an open letter calling on the government to ensure all adult social care workers are paid the real living wage.
As well as gaining support form charities, the letter has been signed by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and North East mayor Kim McGuinness.
The intervention comes as the Employment Rights Bill progresses through the House of Lords towards Royal Assent. The legislation includes plans for Fair Pay Agreements, which would establish legally binding pay and conditions across sectors – a move welcomed by campaigners. However, they warn the process could take until 2028 to take effect, leaving low-paid care workers struggling in the meantime.
Research by the IPPR thinktank estimates it would cost the government around £330m to guarantee care workers the real living wage, which is less than 2% of last year’s social care budget.
The letter can be read in full below:
Dear Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP,
As Mayor of North East England and Mayor of Greater Manchester, we write today to recognise the service and dedication of the country’s social care workers and to urge the Government to guarantee every adult social care worker in England is paid at least the real Living Wage. This action to lift more than 400,000 care workers out of low pay would improve staff recruitment and retention and reduce pressure on our NHS. We welcome the commitment of £500 million towards the Fair Pay Agreement but believe a real Living Wage for care workers cannot wait until 2028 and should be introduced immediately.
Care is skilled work, which requires you to be responsible for someone in their hour of need. No one taking on this responsibility should be paid the bare minimum. Scotland and Wales have both already introduced policies ensuring care workers are paid at least the real Living Wage. It is time for England to do the same and guarantee at least the real Living Wage for every hour worked, including sleep-in shifts and in-work travel time.
Analysis by IPPR found that it would cost the Government £330 million to guarantee care workers the real Living Wage. To put this into perspective, that is less than 2% of last year’s social care budget – a modest investment to make sure those who care for others are paid enough to take care of themselves. We know the Government shares our ambition for fair pay in the sector and we stand ready to work with you so we can deliver for social care workers as soon as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Kim McGuinness, Mayor of North East England and Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Image via Shutterstock
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