Pa drafodaethau y mae Llywodraeth Cymru wedi'u cael gyda Llywodraeth y DU ynghylch sicrhau cydraddoldeb cyflog salwch ymhlith gweithwyr sy'n gweithio mewn cwmnïau gofal?
The Covid-19 Statutory Sick Pay Enhancement scheme was introduced on 1 November 2020 to provide financial support for social care workers who need to self-isolate or stay off work in line with current guidance. It was introduced as Ministers recognised that most social care workers received only Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) when they needed to stay off work due to Covid-19, or no income at all if they did not qualify for SSP.
The scheme ensures staff in the social care sector receive 100% of their usual pay in their pay-packet (without delay) when they are advised to stay off work due to testing positive or being identified as a contact of a positive case. It provides funding for employers to pay workers at full pay for eligible absences. This removes the financial disadvantage to social care workers of staying away from work to protect our most vulnerable citizens.
Absences covered by the scheme have kept pace with the changing requirements for self-isolation. The scheme is specifically for social care workers. This ran alongside the Self-Isolation Payment scheme, which was also available to social care workers up till the end of that scheme on 30 June 2022; and staff could choose from which scheme to claim.
Ministers have recently extended the SSP Enhancement scheme until 31 August 2022 and will review the scheme again at the time that testing arrangements and other plans for autumn/winter are being decided.
Alongside of these schemes, the Welsh Government convened the Social Care Fair Work Forum in 2020 bringing together trade unions, employers and Government in social partnership to look at how the working conditions of social care workers can be improved in Wales. The Forum is committed to working together to influence national priorities and policy regarding fair work in the social care sector in Wales and to work ambitiously and pragmatically to achieve practical and implementable change.
It has prioritised certain issues with regard to fair work in the sector:
- The payment of the Real Living Wage to all social care staff as a minimum;
- Developing a pay and progression framework for social care staff;
- Determining how a model of collective bargaining could operate in the sector;
- Examine the role and experiences of Personal Assistants in social care and their access to fair work;
- Supporting safe, healthy and inclusive working environments in social care;
- Understand the impact on workers of non-guaranteed hours and the extent to which workers have knowledge of, and are able to access their rights.
Having provided its advice on meeting the Real Living Wage commitment, the Forum will now focus on improving wider terms and conditions in the sector.