Aged care workers are in for a significant pay rise of 23% following a landmark decision by the Fair Work Commission.
The commission’s expert panel recognized the undervaluation of aged care workers, particularly those involved in direct care, and ordered substantial pay increases, with a new benchmark pay rate of $1,223.90 a week for certificate III qualified employees.
This decision is expected to result in billions of dollars of additional investment in aged care, on top of the $11.3bn allocated over four years in the 2023 budget for the 15% interim pay increase.
Health Services Union secretary, Gerard Hayes, hailed the decision as one of the best outcomes ever achieved by the union, emphasizing that it will make aged care more competitive with the public health system and ensure that older people are cared for with dignity.
The expert panel also recognized the historical undervaluation of aged care sector employees due to gender-based assumptions and found that minimum pay rates for nurses failed to properly recognize the transformation of nursing into a profession.
The decision is expected to have far-reaching implications for other industries, with the panel predicting similar applications in sectors where female-dominated ’caring’ work has been undervalued.
The pay increase will also benefit assistants in nursing, home care workers, and indirect care employees, with varying percentage increases based on their roles and responsibilities.
Hayes acknowledged that there is still more work to be done, particularly for support services, but overall, the decision marks a significant milestone in recognizing the value of aged care workers and ensuring they are fairly compensated for their essential work.
For more information, you can read the full article here.
2024-03-14 22:59:38
Post from www.theguardian.com