200,000 Care Workers Paid Less Than Minimum Wage

By PA | Updated: Mar 23rd 2016 09:32 AM

Travel time omission leads to illegal wage practices

Tens of thousands of care workers are being paid less than the minimum wage because their employers do not count travel time between appointments, a union has claimed.

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said more than 200,000 care workers were receiving illegal wages. The union’s research indicates that three out of four local authorities in England—and an even higher proportion in Wales—do not stipulate in their contracts that staff must be paid for travelling between visits.

Calls for councils to enforce travel-time payments

“More councils might now be insisting that homecare contracts ensure payment for travel time, but there are still too many that don’t,” said Mr Prentis. “This shows just how little local authorities value care staff who do such a vital job looking after the elderly and disabled.

“Councils shouldn’t award contracts to firms without ensuring they’re prepared to pay travel time. The Government and councils must act now to put a stop to the shocking treatment of this dedicated group of employees.”

Parliamentary debate set to address the issue

The report was published ahead of a debate in Parliament on the illegal payment practices affecting homecare staff. Advocates hope that stricter contract requirements will finally guarantee that all care workers receive at least the statutory £6.70 per hour, including travel between appointments.