500 Home Carers to get London Living Wage

London Living Wage (LLW) will be extended to nearly 500 home care workers under proposals unveiled by Islington Council.

The report to the Council's Executive on 7 February 2013, will call for companies tendering for new three-year £6.3m domiciliary care contracts to pay LLW - currently £8.30 per hour.

Current contracts end in March 2014.

Cllr Janet Burgess, executive member for health & wellbeing, Islington Council said:

"Everyone deserves a fair day's pay for a hard day's work yet for too long care workers providing vital support for our loved ones have struggled on poverty pay.

"These new contracts will change that and give our care workers the living wage they deserve.

"We're on the side of our community and despite deep and ongoing government cuts, we are maintaining our budget for home care services and remain one of the few councils in the country still providing support to those with moderate needs."

Up to six companies can bid for the council's home care contracts. All will also need to prioritise local recruitment, boosting opportunities in line with the aims of the council's Fairness Commission.

Matthew Bolton, Deputy Director of Citizens UK said:

"This is another case of Islington Council leading the way on Living Wage. Social Care is one of the most challenging but most important sectors for the Living Wage.

"As a result of this commitment, care workers and their families will enjoy a better quality of life and elderly and vulnerable residents of Islington will receive better quality care services."

Islington Council became one of the first two authorities in London to be recognised as a LLW Employer in March 2012.