Aged Care Funding Boost Welcomed

Aged Care Funding Boost Welcomed

The Service and Food Workers Nga Ringa Tota, which represents Aged Care residential workers and those working in home care, has welcomed yesterday's Government funding announcement as a tremendous boost for low-paid workers.

"The Government is to be congratulated for responding to the submissions of sector unions and providing funding that should provide caregivers pay increases of more than double the rate of inflation for each of the next four years," said SFWU National Secretary John Ryall.

"The Government funding increase will help address the caregiver recruitment and retention problems and improve the quality of care offered to our vulnerable elderly."

The SFWU has though thrown out a warning to the Government that unless strong measures are put in place through District Health Board service contracts and collective employment agreements that the extra funding may be gobbled up by the sector providers before it gets into the pockets of the workers it is intended for.

ENDS

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