Caregivers take stand to lift pay rates

23 March 2004

Caregivers take a stand to lift pay rates Caregivers week, March 22 – 28

The workers who care for one of New Zealand’s most vulnerable groups, the elderly, are this week taking a stand to lift their pay.

This is national Caregivers Week.

Caregivers Week, from March 22 until March 28, will be marked by members of the Nurses Organisation and the Service and Food Workers Union in aged care facilities across the country.

This week caregivers are calling on government to match a new NZQA qualification with a fair financial reward.

“Caregivers’ pay is a national disgrace” said NZNO spokes person Cee Payne-Harker.

“Caregiving is a skilled and difficult job and we entrust the care of our elderly to caregivers, but the pay of many caregivers is little more than the minimum wage.”

Cee Payne-Harker said the new caregivers’ qualification was expected to be introduced later this year.

Caregivers are supporting a budget bid for direct payments to those caregivers who obtain the NZQA qualification.

ENDS

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