[UK] Migration advisers urge government to fund £10.50 social care minimum wage

The UK government has been urged by its migration advisers to fully fund the introduction of a £10.50-an-hour minimum wage for adult social care workers in England, Community Care reports.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said a lack of funding - leading to inadequate pay and conditions - was behind the significant recruitment and retention difficulties the sector faced.

While a £10.50 minimum wage at a cost of £2.1bn to the public purse was necessary, it was not sufficient, the MAC said in a government-commissioned report on adult social care and immigration.

“We would…strongly emphasise that an increase of this magnitude is not enough to address the issues presented by low pay in the sector and urge the government to go significantly further as quickly as possible,” the report said.

It continued, “We would like to thank the Migration Advisory Committee for their continued work on this area.

“This report calls for cross-Whitehall consideration including on funding for social care, pay, conditions and workforce strategy, alongside immigration policy.

“The government will consider the MAC’s recommendations carefully and respond in due course.”

Source: Community Care

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

The UK government has been urged by its migration advisers to fully fund the introduction of a £10.50-an-hour minimum wage for adult social care workers in England, Community Care reports.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) said a lack of funding - leading to inadequate pay and conditions - was behind the significant recruitment and retention difficulties the sector faced.

While a £10.50 minimum wage at a cost of £2.1bn to the public purse was necessary, it was not sufficient, the MAC said in a government-commissioned report on adult social care and immigration.

“We would…strongly emphasise that an increase of this magnitude is not enough to address the issues presented by low pay in the sector and urge the government to go significantly further as quickly as possible,” the report said.

It continued, “We would like to thank the Migration Advisory Committee for their continued work on this area.

“This report calls for cross-Whitehall consideration including on funding for social care, pay, conditions and workforce strategy, alongside immigration policy.

“The government will consider the MAC’s recommendations carefully and respond in due course.”

Source: Community Care

(Link and quotes via original reporting)