UNISON, the UK’s largest union, has criticised bosses in privately run firms caring for the elderly for cheating their workers out of decent pay. An HMRC two-year investigation found that, of the completed 183 investigations, a massive 48% of employers paid workers below the minimum wage.
UNISON General Secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “It is appalling that bosses are still getting around paying the minimum wage which is already low enough at £6.31 an hour for adults. As champions of the national minimum wage we find this abuse unacceptable and want any bosses breaking the law to be relentlessly pursued and made to pay what’s due in arrears.
“Staff paid below the legal rates and the people they care for will suffer if these companies are not made to abide by the law.
“We’ve been warning for years about the crisis in care for the elderly where staff are treated badly and have to squeeze care visits into 15 minutes slots. Homes care workers provide a vital service to vulnerable adults and they deserve decent pay.”
A recent UNISON survey found that 57% of home care workers said they were not paid for their travel time between home visits reducing their income significantly. Workers not only lose out financially but their professional pride and morale is also affected.
The minimum rates that every employee must be legally paid are:
· Adult rate (21 and over) is £6.31 an hour;
· The rate for 18-20 year olds is £5.03 an hour;
· The rate for 16-17 year olds is now £3.72 an hour;
· The apprentice rate has increased to £2.68 an hour.
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