Moncton – The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity welcomes the Green Party's promise to increase the wages of home care workers.
"We agree with the Green Party that improving home care services is largely driven by increasing workers’ wages. The value of female-dominated jobs must be recognized on a social and monetary basis, “ says Frances LeBlanc, the Coalition Chair.
In their financial disclosure form, the Green Party indicated it would increase the wages of home care workers and special care home workers by $3 an hour in two phases, by $1.50 in 2019-20 and $1.50 in 2021-22. This would bring wages to at least $16.80 an hour for home care workers and $16 per hour for workers in special care homes.
For the Coalition, this is significant even if there is still a gap to close in order to achieve pay equity. In fact, a study by economist Ruth Rose calculated pay equity in the community caregiving sector at about $20 an hour in 2012. This amount was determined by comparing responsibilities, skills, effort and working conditions associated with these jobs and male-dominated jobs.
"At this point in New Brunswick, we need legislation to achieve pay equity across the entire community caregiving and private sector workforce," says LeBlanc. “The Green Party and the NDP have made that promise, which we applaud. Now we urge other political parties to do the same. It's a human right and a matter of economic justice!”
Approximately 12,000 to 15,000 people work in the community care sector. They are mostly women and earn an average of $12 to $15 an hour.