Social care staff will receive the Real Living Wage in Wales as part of a package to support the sector, deputy minister for social services Julie Morgan has announced.
Currently £9.90 per hour, the Real Living Wage is independently calculated by the Resolution Foundation and overseen by the Living Wage Commission.
The Real Living Wage will apply to registered workers in care homes and domiciliary care, in both adults and children’s services.
The uplift will apply to personal assistants who provide care and support, which is funded through a direct payment.
The Welsh government will provide Welsh local authorities and health boards with £43m so they can implement the Real living Wage from April; with workers feeling the benefit in the following months.
“Social care continued to face considerable pressure. Throughout the pandemic we have all seen the vital contribution social care workers have made and continue to make, every single day to our health and social care system,” said Morgan (pictured).
“This is an important first step towards improving employment terms and conditions for the sector. It is a long term commitment and will take some time to implement. We will need to ensure that we do this carefully and in a way that does not destabilise the sector,” she added.
“I look forward to working with all stakeholders, Social Care Fair Work Forum, Union, local governments and providers to take this forward.”
Chief social care officer for Wales Albert Heaney said: “Every social care worker should feel valued, rewarded and respected for the vital work they do and the valuable role they play in our communities.
“By introducing the Real Living Wage and working towards improving the terms and conditions, we are beginning to tackle some of the challenges facing the sector; in particular recruitment and retention.”
