Meacher in care worker wage plea

Date published: 28 October 2014


OLDHAM West and Royton MP Michael Meacher is demanding action to ensure homecare workers earn at least the minimum wage.

They should also be paid for time spent travelling between clients, says the veteran Labour MP.

Mr Meacher supports a Westminster campaign calling for a statement from the Government over the action it intends to take.

Mr meacher said: “Up to 220,000 care workers in England are illegally paid below the minimum wage, according to a National Audit Office report. Homecare workers in particular are consistently not paid for travel time or training.

“They also too often have illegal deductions made from their pay and are frequently put on zero-hours contracts to deny them their legal rights.”

Mr Meacher said underpaying staff was not only illegal but it damaged care and resulted in high turnover of staff.

He wants providers not paying the minimum wage to be named and shamed.