3 years ago
125,000 AGED CARE WORKERS TO MISS OUT ON GOVERNMENT BONUS
Julie Collins MP
New figures have revealed more than 125,000 aged care workers, including cleaners, laundry and catering staff, will miss out on the Government’s aged care retention bonus to be paid in July.
On International Cleaners Day, Labor is calling on the Government to extend the payment to these workers who should be recognised for their efforts on the frontline of Australia’s fight against COVID-19.
Answers to questions Labor lodged in the Senate reveal more than 81,000 workers in residential aged care and more than 43,000 workers in home care will be locked out of the retention bonus payment.
This payment isn’t just about retention, it’s about recognition.
Every worker in aged care is doing their bit to keep vulnerable older Australians safe from COVID-19.
It is simply not fair that some workers who are on the frontline of this fight are not receiving the retention bonus.
These latest figures follow the Government’s outrageous decision to change the rules for aged care workers who will receive the payment which will see them lose hundreds of dollars.
When the Minister for Aged Care announced the retention bonus for aged care workers he made it clear the payment amounts frontline aged care workers would receive were‘after tax’.
But when the guidelines for the retention bonus were released the payment amounts were switched to being before tax.
This will mean aged care workers who receive the bonus will lose money in tax, receiving far less than the $800 and $600 they were promised.
This retention bonus has been botched from the start, with thousands of aged care workers locked out of the payment, including cleaners.
The Morrison Government must explain to aged care workers why it has changed the rules and locked out thousands of workers from the payment.
All aged care workers, including our magnificent cleaners, deserve answers.
On International Cleaners Day, Labor is calling on the Government to extend the payment to these workers who should be recognised for their efforts on the frontline of Australia’s fight against COVID-19.
Answers to questions Labor lodged in the Senate reveal more than 81,000 workers in residential aged care and more than 43,000 workers in home care will be locked out of the retention bonus payment.
This payment isn’t just about retention, it’s about recognition.
Every worker in aged care is doing their bit to keep vulnerable older Australians safe from COVID-19.
It is simply not fair that some workers who are on the frontline of this fight are not receiving the retention bonus.
These latest figures follow the Government’s outrageous decision to change the rules for aged care workers who will receive the payment which will see them lose hundreds of dollars.
When the Minister for Aged Care announced the retention bonus for aged care workers he made it clear the payment amounts frontline aged care workers would receive were‘after tax’.
But when the guidelines for the retention bonus were released the payment amounts were switched to being before tax.
This will mean aged care workers who receive the bonus will lose money in tax, receiving far less than the $800 and $600 they were promised.
This retention bonus has been botched from the start, with thousands of aged care workers locked out of the payment, including cleaners.
The Morrison Government must explain to aged care workers why it has changed the rules and locked out thousands of workers from the payment.
All aged care workers, including our magnificent cleaners, deserve answers.