Welcome for Welsh carers top up promise

Plans announced by the Welsh government to examine how to top up the wages of care workers if they have to self-isolate have been welcomed by the Wales TUC and unions UNISON and the GMB.

Welsh health minister Vaughan Gething said that social care workers who are playing a leading role in protecting society are among the lowest paid workers, and many only receive statutory sick pay if they have to self-isolate or take sickness leave because of coronavirus.

“That drop of income for doing the right thing is not only unfair, but it also increases the risk of spreading the virus,” he said. “It is forcing some people to have to choose between self-isolating and paying their bills."

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj responded: "The Wales TUC and affiliated trade unions very much welcome [the] Welsh government’s announcement that it is working with local authorities to top up social care workers’ sick pay if they need to self-isolate.

“With the winter flu season fast approaching, schools reopening and other sectors beginning to commence operation, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) of £95.85 per week is not a viable amount of money for any worker to survive on. Many social care workers are employed by an agency or in other forms of precarious work, and some do not even have access to sick pay.”

https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/wales-tuc-welcomes-welsh-government-plans-assist-social-care-workers