Union reacts positively to Welsh Government pledge to ‘top up’ wages of care workers if they have to self isolate

A union has welcomed Welsh Government plans to top up the wages of social care workers in Wales if they have to self isolate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The health minister Vaughan Gething announced the plan at during this week’s Welsh Government coronavirus briefing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He stated he couldn’t give a “definitive time” on when it will happen but did say he wanted it to be resolved within a matter of weeks. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He said: “I am very clear that I want this to be resolved in a matter of weeks, not months, because we are coming up to the autumn. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We know that when we get into the autumn period more of us will have coronavirus like symptoms – cold, cough, or any return of the seasonal flu, so there will be people out of the workplace self-isolating, doing the right thing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It’s been in SAGE papers and the advice of our own technical advisory group. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The financial support is a real issue, especially in the residential care sector. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We know people are working with vulnerable people. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“So, I’m looking to inject some urgency and getting some agreement now we’ve got the financial support to make this happen for workers in the social care sector.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In a statement reacting to this announcement, Tanya Palmer, UNISON Cymru Wales regional secretary, said: “It’s important to hear Welsh government acknowledge the serious concerns of care workers and Vaughan Gething deserves credit for listening to the trade unions. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

This approach is in stark contrast to the Westminster government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Employees on zero-hours or precarious contracts at private or non-profit care homes are already on low wages. They face financial hardship if they have to self-isolate. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

People shouldn’t be faced with a choice of making ends meet or following public health advice and helping prevent the spread of the virus. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

UNISON believes workers self-isolating shouldn’t have to take a financial hit for doing the right thing. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

They should be paid in full, with the government stepping in to help out smaller employers where necessary. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

We want to work with Welsh government to look at how emergency measures could financially protect these low-paid workers caring for the most vulnerable in society including the elderly and sick who are most at risk if they become infected.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

—– ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Jordan Adams ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Latest News