MORE THAN WARM WORDS NEEDED FOR OUR SOCIAL CARE WORKERS

I participated in a debate about the need to recognise and reward our social care workers, who have cared for our elderly and vulnerable relatives throughout the current health crisis.

Whilst paying tribute to the vital contribution made by our care workers during the coronavirus crisis, it is more important to pay them properly for the work that they do. The Scottish Government awarded social care workers an immediate pay rise of 3.3% at the start of April, and is in the process of establishing a top up fund for social care workers who contract COVID-19 in the course of their duties. This is especially important since Statutory Sick Pay is £95.85 per week, almost the lowest in all of Europe, and is certainly not enough to live on. But more could be done and more should be done across the UK.

You can see my contribution in the video below: