A new report by the Fabian Society urges ministers to put £1.5billion aside to bring carer salaries in line with the NHS and end the recruitment crisis facing the sector
Ministers should put cash aside to give more than half a million care workers a £2,000 pay rise, a report rules today.
The Fabian Society says the move is needed to tackle the “national scandal” in social care. Its report calls for the minimum wage in social care to be brought in line with the NHS.
Trade union Unison has supported the demand, which would cost £1.5billion. There are estimated to be around 120,000 vacancies in England, while last week the Government announced it would be axing social care visas, meaning businesses will need to recruit from the UK.
Joe Dromey, general secretary of the Fabian Society and co-author of the report, said: “The treatment of the social care workforce is a national scandal. Care workers deliver vital support, yet they face poverty pay, chronic insecurity, and have few opportunities for progression.”
And Christina McAnea, Unison general secretary, said: “Raising wages in care is the first step to turning around this beleaguered sector.” She added: “Care work is highly skilled, as anyone with a relative in care knows only too well. But it’s paid as if it’s a low-skilled job.
“That’s why too few people want to work in the sector and employers have become so dependent on staff from overseas.” Keir Starmer has said ministers are drawing up a plan to tackle the crisis in the sector after closing the door to overseas care workers.
The PM, whose sister is a carer, has previously stated he is committed to tackling the crisis, but faces pressure to act quickly. The Fabian Society says a £13.17 an hour minimum wage is needed for 600,000 low-paid care staff.
And it estimates that by making salaries similar to healthcare assistants in the NHS, an extra 90,000 workers could be attracted to the sector. The report, titled Seizing The Opportunity also suggests 27,000 fewer staff would quit each year.
This would lead to an improvement in care standards, the report argues.