#BetterPay4SocialCare

We call on the Government to ensure all social care workers receive a minimum of the Real Living Wage.

Covid-19 has revealed just how much we rely on our nation's social care workers and the risks that they take to do their job. It has provided a focus on the incredible work they undertake, and the skills required to deliver social care and support to the highest of standards.

As heartening as it is that the Government recognised social care workers as key workers, they deserve more pay. Few get above the national living wage (that's £8.72 per hour for workers aged over 25); many get less.

We call on Government to ensure social care workers are paid a minimum of the Real Living Wage of £9.30 per hour (£10.75 in London).

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government worked with local government to ensure all social care key workers now receive the Real Living Wage. We want this to be implemented throughout the UK.

There are 1.62 million people working in adult social care, supporting vulnerable people. The majority are employed by care providers, many of which are charities.

The salary that social care workers receive is determined by an hourly rate that local authorities give the care providers. It is not enough to pay the Real Living Wage.

Years of austerity has meant that care providers are used to dealing with extreme financial constraints, and are experts in efficiencies. But this has meant frontline key workers aren't given the rate of pay that no-one can deny they deserve - despite them literally placing their lives at risk to fulfil their role to the people they support, their employer and to society.

Our response to this must match our values as a country and our hopes for a more equal and compassionate society. Please sign this petition so that we can show the Government how much we are behind our social care workers - and hopefully we can influence change.