Low Pay Commission Consultation on National Minimum Wage Rates

CARE England, the largest and most diverse representative body for independent providers of adult social care, has today submitted evidence to the Low Pay Commission's Consultation on April 2024 National Minimum Wage Rates and has called on Government to consider the implementation of a fully funded care wage.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, says:- "Whilst Care England welcomes the decision of the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage again in April 2024, as it has a positive impact on those working in adult social care, we must once again urge the Government to match this increase with the appropriate funding. As a labour-intensive sector, costs associated with the workforce represent the most significant cost for most providers, and with the vast majority of staff paid at or around the NLW, any increase will amount to a significant increase in the costs borne by providers. Care England has continued to raise concerns that many Local Authorities do not offer fees which secure future sustainability. Care England would therefore encourage the Low Pay Commission to work with both the Department of Health and Social Care and the Treasury to consider how they can increase the budgets of Local Authorities such that they can afford to match NLW increases with free increases for ASC providers."

The Low Pay Commission (LPC) is the independent body which advises the Government on the levels of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The LPC sought input to shape the recommendations the Commission will make to the Government this Autumn. These will cover the levels of the NMW, including the NLW. In April 2024, the LPC anticipate the on-course NLW will be between £10.90 and £11.43, with a central estimate of £11.16.

The consultation closed on:- 9 June 2023.

Martin Green continues:- "The adult social care workforce is the most valuable asset to our sector, and we must ensure that they are renumerated properly for their hard work. Earlier this year, Care England, and the national learning disability charity Hft, called on the Government to develop a pay framework to establish a minimum care wage, above the level of the NLW and tied to NHS band 3. The implementation of a fully-funded care wage would help reward a workforce that continues to work tirelessly and would help to alleviate the ongoing workforce pressures faced by the sector as a result of historic chronic underfunding from central Government. Low levels of pay for care staff is considered to be the biggest barrier to recruitment and retention. Increasing rates of pay is deemed to be the number 1 thing that would have the most impact on improving the workforce situation. This is the responsibility of this Government if they are to truly fix social care.".

Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:-  Mastodon, Facebook or Twitter.

78% of employers think that the sides involved in strike action should seek independent mediation

A new survey has found that nearly 4 out of 5 employers (78%) think that the various sides involved in strike action should seek independent mediation to resolve their dispute.  Acas offers a free independent mediation service called collective conciliation that can help employers and trade unions resolve their disputes.

The YouGov poll asked respondents whether they thought the various sides in dispute taking strike action should seek independent mediation. Only 7% said that they should not seek independent mediation and 15% didn't know.

Acas Director of Dispute Resolution, Kate Nowicki, said:- "It is clear from our poll that an overwhelming majority of employers would like to see the various sides involved in strike action using independent mediation. Acas has decades of experience in resolving conflict and we have a team of experts that are well prepared and ready to help with the disputes dominating the headlines now. However, we can only hold formal mediation talks when all the parties in dispute agree that the time is right to use our free and independent collective conciliation service."

Acas has seen a 20% rise in demand for its collective conciliation compared to the same period last year. This help has included confidential background support to the parties involved in strike action.

Using an independent impartial Acas conciliator in a long running dispute can help bring a calm, fresh pair of eyes to identify common ground between the sides in dispute and find a way forward, which can help break a deadlock.

Acas collective conciliators are independent and impartial. This means they do not take sides or impose solutions. They're there to help both parties find a solution that everyone agrees to.

The majority of Acas's collective conciliation work takes place before formal talks. It is a period of:- 'pre-talk support.' This can include sharing information informally between parties, educating them on different options about talks, exploring those options and discussing the support needed for the negotiators.

Acas handles over 500 collective disputes every year. For more information, please see:- Acas.Org.UK.  Let us know your thoughts on this news topic... Email our Newsroom at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com or send us a message on:-  Mastodon, Facebook or Twitter.