[UK] 43% of care workers earn less than Living Wage

A Living Wage Foundation report has revealed that 43 per cent of social care workers (400,000 people) currently earn below the real Living Wage in England, Care Home Professional reports.

The statistics - featuring new analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - show that it would cost £415m to pay the real Living Wage to all adult social care workers in England.

The net cost of the wage uplift is reportedly estimated to be £330m because the cost would be offset by the government recouping additional income tax and national insurance through higher wages.

A measure of this nature, to support fair pay in the social care sector, would amount to less than 2 per cent of the social care budget for the coming year. 

The report was released as part of the Citizens UK campaign for a real Living Wage for Social Care. 

Matthew Bolton - Citizens UK executive director - said, “It’s not right that those caring for our loved ones when they need it most are barely surviving because of their low wages.

“This also has knock-on effects for the sector: staff turnover is high, the quality of care is compromised, and morale is low.

“It simply can’t continue this way. We urge the next UK Government to ensure all care workers are paid at least the real Living Wage and build on the example set by Scotland and Wales.”

Source: Care Home Professional

(Quotes via original reporting)

A Living Wage Foundation report has revealed that 43 per cent of social care workers (400,000 people) currently earn below the real Living Wage in England, Care Home Professional reports.

The statistics - featuring new analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) - show that it would cost £415m to pay the real Living Wage to all adult social care workers in England.

The net cost of the wage uplift is reportedly estimated to be £330m because the cost would be offset by the government recouping additional income tax and national insurance through higher wages.

A measure of this nature, to support fair pay in the social care sector, would amount to less than 2 per cent of the social care budget for the coming year. 

The report was released as part of the Citizens UK campaign for a real Living Wage for Social Care. 

Matthew Bolton - Citizens UK executive director - said, “It’s not right that those caring for our loved ones when they need it most are barely surviving because of their low wages.

“This also has knock-on effects for the sector: staff turnover is high, the quality of care is compromised, and morale is low.

“It simply can’t continue this way. We urge the next UK Government to ensure all care workers are paid at least the real Living Wage and build on the example set by Scotland and Wales.”

Source: Care Home Professional

(Quotes via original reporting)