Mayors sign open letter with Citizens UK & Living Wage Foundation urging Government to support a real Living Wage for care workers

Today, Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation have published an open letter signed by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to urge the Government to guarantee that all adult social care workers are paid at least the real Living Wage now.

As the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) moves through the House of Lords and closer to Royal Assent, Citizens UK and the Living Wage Foundation have welcome the plans to introduce Fair Pay Agreements that will give negotiated pay and conditions legal framework. However, this process could take until 2028, and care workers cannot afford to wait that long.

Right now, thousands of dedicated care workers across the country are struggling to make ends meet. A real Living Wage would give care workers the recognition and dignity they deserve for the essential work they do every day.

Analysis by IPPR found that it would cost the Government £330 million to guarantee care workers the real Living Wage. To put this into perspective, that is less than 2% of last year’s social care budget – a modest investment to make sure those who care for others are paid enough to take care of themselves.