
Guaranteed hours for home & community workers going
well
Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
Minister of Health
7th June 2017
Media Statement
Health Minister Jonathan Coleman is pleased with how the
implementation of guaranteed hours for home and community support
workers is tracking.
"Home and community support workers play a vital role in
assisting older people, disabled people, and those recovering from
injury or illness, with household and personal care needs," says Dr
Coleman.
"In October last year, the Ministry of Health, DHBs, home
support providers and unions reached an agreement requiring support
workers to be guaranteed hours according to what they usually
work.
"It means that from 1 April 2017 if a client cancels a session,
and the support worker cannot be found work elsewhere, they will be
paid for the time.
"This agreement is an important milestone in recognising the
valuable contribution care and support workers make to the lives of
many New Zealanders.
"It will help give greater stability for around 24,000 care and
support workers across the country and is expected to have
additional benefits including reducing high staff turnover
rates."
This agreement is the second part of the In-Between Travel
Settlement. The first part, which came into force in 2015/16,
requires workers to be paid for travel time and mileage between
client visits.
As a result of this settlement, the Government has invested $150
million over four years into this group of workers who have
historically been some of the lowest paid members of the health
workforce.
This group of workers also benefit from the $2 billion pay
equity settlement announced on 18 April, which will see their wages
increase by between 15 and 50 per cent on 1 July, depending on
their qualifications and or experience.
Media contact: Angela Kenealy 021 220 0129
Last updated:
June 7, 2017