United Voice News
Aged Care Workers Underpaid
*Media Release* As a result of soaring industry costs, employees in the aged care sector are underpaid. 30th October 2008.
The union representing aged care employees is calling for a wage increase following a demand by nursing home operators for better federal government funding that was reported in The Australian newspaper today.
“Employees in aged care are among the lowest paid in Australia,” said LHMU secretary Dave Kelly.
“We’ve seen aged care providers hand back bed licenses to the government because of cost blowouts.
“The follow-on from this is that aged care employees are not being paid a fair wage.
“The federal government has earmarked $41.6 billion on aged care spending over the next four years, and this funding must be used to increase wages for aged care employees.
“It is the responsibility of employers to ensure that staff are paid adequately.”
