Trade unions welcomed the Welsh government’s decision to award all care workers a £500 (€570) bonus in recognition of the work they have been doing during the COVID-19 crisis.
The payment will go to all carers whether employed by local authorities, non-profit providers or private companies. “This goes a small way towards showing the appreciation in Wales for care workers, many of whom are on the minimum wage, who have continued to care for their clients and keep them safe in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances,” said Peter Hughes, the Unite union’s regional secretary for Wales.
"COVID-19 has highlighted how much the social care workforce has been undervalued for years,” added Kelly Andrews, social care lead for the GMB union. “We are calling for a full-scale review and restructuring of social care in Wales so that workers are finally recognised for the invaluable and highly skilled professional service that they provide.”