British social care workers hit by real terms £3,000 wage cut

Social care workers on the breadline have lost out on thousands of pounds due to below-inflation pay deals, new analysis shows.

ONS figures show that in April 2010 the average annual salary for care workers and home carers was £12,879. This salary was worth £21,549 in April 2023 in real-terms, yet only rose to £17,851. A real terms pay cut of £3,698 last year.

The GMB union, which did the analysis, estimates real terms pay cuts have affected more than 300,000 care workers. In a speech at Labour Party Conference Natalie Grayson, GMB national officer, said: “It’s hard to think of a more vital role in society than care work.

“These dedicated professionals look after our loved ones when they are at their most vulnerable – freeing us to make our own contributions to society and the economy. And as the UK population ages, their work is only going to get more important. Yet despite their crucial role, and the increasingly clinical nature of what they do, care workers suffer some of the worst pay, terms and conditions in the country.”

The Mirror has launched the Fair Care for All campaign calling for the system to be properly staffed and funded. A GMB survey last year also revealed that nine in 10 carers can’t afford time off sick. The union is campaigning for care workers to earn a minimum of £15 an hour.

Ms Grayson added: “It’s a scandal that their pay has been cut in real terms since the Tories got in - a lost decade for those on the lowest pay. The Government’s manifesto pledge for a Fair Pay Agreement in care is a huge step in the right direction – but GMB’s analysis shows that Labour urgently need to get on and make it happen.”