All care workers in Wales to get full pay when off sick, with England urged to 'learn from Wales'

All care workers in Wales are to be given full pay whilst off sick, or self-isolating due to coronavirus and Westminster is now being urged to "put this policy in place across England".

Welsh Health Minister Vaughan Gething made the announcement at a press conference saying "my expectation is that we will top-up the wages of those taking time off because of coronavirus to 100 per cent of their normal wages."

He added that the decision has been taken as the current system where care workers have to survive on £95 statutory sick pay a week is "unfair" and also because it will help stop the spread of COVID-19 as care workers will be able to take proper time off work.

At the moment "it is forcing some to have to choose between self-isolating and paying the bills", he said.

The announcement was welcomed by Kelly Andrews, GMB social care lead, who said: “It is only right the social care workforce should receive full pay, rather than the completely inadequate statutory sick pay when they are unable to attend work.

“Many carers are part-time, low paid and just can’t afford to take time off if all they get is £95 a week SSP.

“That means care workers faced with the terrible choice between coming into work when they should be isolating, putting residents and colleagues at risk, or not being able to keep a roof over their families’ heads.

“It’s a deadly and completely unnecessary situation for them to be put in."

GMB is now urging Westminster to follow the example set by the Welsh Parliament.

Ms Andrews said: "Meanwhile, Westminster must learn from Wales and put this policy in place across England."

The government need 'to recognise the amazing job care workers' do in England

The Independent Care Group (ICG) chair, Mike Padgham is calling on the English government to follow a lead set by their Welsh counterparts in supporting social care workers.

He said: “The Welsh government leads the way in showing its appreciation of the enormous sacrifice care workers are giving during the current pandemic.

“It has given a £500 bonus for all the country’s 64,000 care workers to recognise the greater degree of risk care staff accepted. It would be great if Boris Johnson could do the same here.

“Westminster has provided the Infection control fund to enable care providers to support their staff but that will not last forever.

"We need the government to recognise the amazing job care workers are doing as they are appreciating it in Wales.

“Coronavirus hasn’t gone away and just had reported a slight increase in care and nursing home deaths. COVID-19 is still a very real issue in the care sector and we need the government to recognise that.”

While the changes initially only apply to COVID-19 related absence, GMB and the Welsh government will be working to make this a long-term uplift to social care workers' terms and conditions.

GMB has long campaigned for full sick pay for the social care workforce. Thousands have signed their online petition since it was launched last week.

To view the petition click here

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