The WLGA has welcomed the Welsh Government announcement to provide £96m to give an extra £1,000 payment for thousands of social care workers, aligned to the introduction of the real living wage.
Cllr Huw David (Bridgend), WLGA Spokesperson for Social Care and Health said:
“The social care workforce has been phenomenal throughout this period and so we welcome this additional payment which contributes towards acknowledging the tremendous effort, immeasurable contributions and sacrifices social care workers have made during extremely difficult times, recognising the invaluable care and support that social care workers provide to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“Throughout the pandemic the social care system has been and continues to be under immense strain. The WLGA has long been calling for the need for extra funding for the social care sector in Wales in order to place it on a sustainable footing and we welcome the additional funding for social care in Welsh Government’s draft budget, including funding to pay social care workers the Real Living Wage. However, we know there remains significant challenges ahead. Local government remain committed to working with all partners to ensure that the social care system is an attractive career choice to individuals, where workers are valued, appropriately rewarded and have a pathway to career progression within a professionalised care sector.”
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