The living wage will be introduced in the social care sector from 1 October. It'll be a challenge - but worth it, says a voluntary sector trade union organiser
Paying charity staff working in social care the living wage will be a challenge for the third sector – but it is doable if organisations work smarter.
That’s the opinion of a senior voluntary sector union organiser, who said the mandatory pay rate presents as many opportunities as difficulties.
The Scottish Government has decreed that from 1 October, all social care workers must receive a living wage of £8.25 per hour.
That will mean an uplift for many third sector workers.
With the right will, the living wage is doable
Charities working in social care have come under increasing pressure through a combination of funding cuts and increasing demand, leading to projects being axed and fears for the future of some groups.
There are worries that paying the living wage could be beyond some and could push them over the edge.
However, Deborah Dyer, Unison Scotland’s voluntary sector organiser, welcomed the move – and insisted it is achievable, but only if care charities put in the work to make it happen.
She said: “Good charities are working with Unison and are already paying the living wage. We’ve been doing a lot of work with charities over the last four years to look at costs, to look at where they’re spending money and we’ve identified ways we can help them pay the living wage.
“So you have the likes of Glasgow Women’s Aid, Glasgow Association for Mental Health, Citizen’s Advice Direct paying the living wage. Enable Scotland and Cornerstone are all working with us to help pay the living wage.
“However, this doesn’t mean it’s not expensive for them – but the government is giving them money. When the first minister announced that the living wage would be paid from 1 October, she provided cash which has been allocated through joint boards to charities to help them pay the living wage.
“Of course it isn’t enough – but with the right will, it’s doable.”
Ian Williams, Enable Scotland director of services, said: “ENABLE Scotland believes paying the living wage is the right thing to do and I am proud we are committed to paying our frontline staff the living wage.
“Being a living wage employer recognises the vital contribution our frontline staff make in creating an equal society for every person who has a learning disability through delivering excellent quality support.
“It is a challenge for all organisations in the sector to do this when local authorities have finite resources, but we remain committed to working to achieving the living wage for our frontline staff on 1 October.”
Councils have questioned how they are to pay the rate, in the teeth of the Scottish Government’s council tax freeze.
However, a cash deal was pushed through which Holyrood ministers insist means the rate is payable.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Paying the living wage for care workers - the vast majority of whom are women - will help improve the incomes of these absolutely crucial workers, retain their talents in the sector and lay strong foundations for the future as the population ages and demand for their services increases.”
Unison’s Dyer kick-started a debate in the sector when, in an interview with TFN, she saidsome charities might have to look at merging and curbing senior management pay and positions to survive the care crisis and to protect vital frontline jobs.
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