The low pay rates for care home workers was a scandal long before the Covid pandemic hit.
But, despite what these dedicated workers have gone through in the last 18 months, they are still woefully underpaid.
Today we tell how six Scottish local authorities who have made a commitment to pay at least the Real Living Wage are using companies who are advertising care worker jobs paying under the threshold.
There is a legal minimum floor for the hourly rate – the National Living Wage – but the Real Living Wage, what people actually need to survive on, is higher at £9.50 an hour.
Those councils have signed up to an ethical charter to pay the real living wage rate.
The six councils have made a mockery of their own commitments and are undermining a scheme designed to protect and enhance the working conditions of their staff.
Councils and private care home operators are going to have to start rethinking on wages and conditions in light of the Covid legacy.
One of the consequences of Brexit is a big squeeze on the labour market, particularly in rural areas of Scotland, where some restaurants and hotels find they cannot open because of staff shortages. Higher wages are inevitable to attract more staff and that will affect the care home sector too.
Employers need to understand that care staff are key workers and need to be supported in the important jobs they do.
The six councils in questions must ensure the Real Living Wage is paid to all care workers.
Scrap the Lords
Days before lockdown hit last year it was revealed that the cost of expenses claimed by members of the House of Lords had risen by almost a third in the space of 12 months.
The unelected upper chamber is supposed to scrutinise legislation – but given the average age of members, it’s more like the plushest day centre for the elderly in London.
Lord McInnes of Kilwinning is a relative youngster at 44. He claimed almost £6000 in expenses last year but made just six speeches in that time.
Now he’s off to join Boris Johnson’s team as a special adviser, where he’ll be expected to strengthen support for the Union.
A quick way to do that might be to scrap the House of Lords and replace it with an elected upper chamber with no earls or dukes in sight.
And to ensure that Tory cronyism is swept aside for good.
