Home support workers getting wage increase

Health and Community Services Minister Julie Bettney said Budget 2001-2002 will provide a wage increase for home support workers that will total $4.8 million annually.

"Government is taking its first step to address the concerns of home support workers," said Minister Bettney. "Compensation was a major issue expressed by home support workers and I am pleased we are able to provide this funding which will go directly to increasing wages. This measure will help support and stabilize the workforce."

The wages for home support workers will increase from $5.84 per hour to $7.01 per hour, a 20 per cent increase. The increase blends the lowest and middle rates of pay. More than two-thirds of all home care workers in the province will benefit from this initiative.

Home care workers will receive this raise in two installments. Effective June 1, 2001, home support workers will receive 70 per cent of the increase, or $0.82 per hour, to bring wages to $6.66 per hour. The remainder will be provided on December 1, 2001.

Government recognizes this is an important step toward enhancing the Home Support Program, said Minister Bettney. The Department of Health and Community Services has also begun a review of the training program for home support workers, which will be co-ordinated by the Centre for Nursing Studies and the College of the North Atlantic. In addition, the department is adopting policy changes in the areas of baseline data collection, evaluation, and assessment tools.

Currently, government spends $43 million annually for the Home Support Program, which provides services for approximately 2,700 seniors and people with developmental and physical disabilities.

Media contact: Carmel Parsons, Communications, (709) 729-1377.

2001 03 22            4:15 p.m.