April 19, 2017
Care pay boost for poorest workers
Greens co-leader Metiria Turei says a deal to increase the pay of aged care workers is long overdue and will have a huge effect on the lives of thousands of low income women and their families.
The deal between the government, which funds the bulk of jobs in the sector, and the unions followed a legal challenge that the low pay rates were because the bulk of the workforce were women.
Ms Turei says as an initial increase of at least $4 an hour in July, skills and experience will be recognised in a way that means people can start seeing it as a career.
"For Maori and Pacific workers in particular who make up a huge proportion of aged care workers, this will make a big difference to their lives. These are often the poorest women, they are working extremely hard in a job that requires real care and compassion and they are finally getting some recognition for it," she says.
The aging population means the demand for care workers will continue to increase.
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