Carer Relief Workers Gain Minimum Employment Rights

Over 35,000 home care relief workers have gained the right to the minimum wage and holidays through a case won by the Service and Food Workers Union in the Employment Court.

The court yesterday agreed to the union arguments that the Ministry of Health and Capital and Coast District Health Board had breached the law in paying Kapiti home care relief worker Jan Lowe a "subsidy" of as little as $3.00 an hour rather than the $14.25 an hour minimum wage and minimum holiday entitlements.

Service and Food Workers Union National Secretary John Ryall welcomed the historical Employment Court decision and paid tribute to the work that home care relief workers carried out.

"Home care relief workers allow family carers a short break from looking after disabled or ill relatives by stepping into their role. Without these workers the family care system would fall over," he said.

The Service and Food Workers Union case comes nearly 20 years after the union won a legal victory for other home support workers, then engaged by the Central Regional Health Authority below the minimum wage as independent contractors.

ends

© Scoop Media