Award wages of low-paid aged care workers are being lifted by a full 15%, effective from 30 June this year.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF), has applauded the order by the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
The wage increase applies to direct care workers, including Head Chefs and Recreational and Lifestyle Officers.
ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said this is a great win for aged care workers and a further step towards genuine recognition of their true value but noted that there is still more work to do.
“From our perspective, the order to pay the full 15% this year not only recognises the severe undervaluation of aged care workers under the current award system, but also acknowledges the rising cost of living pressures these workers continue to face, whilst receiving chronically low wages.”
Ms Butler also commended the FWC for extending the 15% increase to other workers in aged care, including Head Chefs and Recreational and Lifestyle Officers. The ANMF is now calling on the federal government to fund the full 15% as ordered by the FWC to urgently improve the pay and conditions of workers in the undervalued aged care industry – one of its key election commitments.
3 Responses
Wait and see what happens to the care homes when you dont give the cleaners the rise they will not give 100% you let them down they will give up when there is covid 19 they will say you can clean it why should be put our lifes at risk
You say agecare workers get pay rise but its not agecare works it only some of them you are saying that cleaners laundry are not needed not important??
Hi Tina, thanks for your comments. You are correct when you say not all aged care workers will get the pay rise- only some including low paid carers who are on the award wage. We agree cleaners and laundry are important. In fact the union movement is currently lobbying that all aged care workers to get the rise.