Moncton – The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity welcomes the Progressive Conservative Party's promise to invest in fair wages for home care workers in their platform on aging care.
"We are encouraged to see that the Progressive Conservative Party is committed to investing in the wages of workers in this predominantly female sector. It remains to be seen whether these investments will reach pay equity," says Frances LeBlanc, the Coalition Chair.
To do so, salaries must reflect the skills, responsibilities, efforts and working conditions required for the job. A study by economist Ruth Rose showed that in 2012, hourly wages for home care workers in New Brunswick should have been about $20 an hour to achieve pay equity. Today, with inflation, it should be even higher.
"We must ensure we pay fair wages to all community care sector workers. Their low wages demonstrate that New Brunswick needs pay equity legislation for the entire private sector. It is time!" adds Frances LeBlanc.
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.