Written question WQ100164

Welsh Government recognises that fair pay is fundamental to valuing the social care workforce, and improving pay, terms and conditions for this skilled and dedicated sector remains a key priority.

The Welsh Government provides significant funding to support payment of the Real Living Wage. It is for commissioners and employers to ensure this funding is passed on appropriately and reflects the full costs of employment. We strongly encourage employers to remunerate workers for all working time, including travel time and other work-related duties. We are currently engaging with local authorities and health boards to strengthen monitoring arrangements for the implementation of the Real Living Wage, better understand barriers to delivery, and identify where workers may not be receiving the intended benefits.

While employment law is not devolved, Fair Pay Agreements will, for the first time, provide a mechanism through which pay, terms and conditions agreed by a Social Care Negotiating Body for Wales can be made enforceable across the sector. This will provide an important opportunity to consider issues relating to working time, including travel time and other work-related duties, alongside broader pay and conditions arrangements.

We continue to work closely with the Social Care Fair Work Forum, which brings together trade unions, employers, local government and Welsh Government to improve pay, terms and conditions across the sector and support the practical implementation of fair work principles.

The development of a Social Care Negotiating Body will provide a formal collective bargaining mechanism through which employers and trade unions can negotiate pay, terms and conditions. The Body will be supported by the latest research, evidence and workforce data on the challenges facing the sector, including issues relating to pay and working time, to help inform any future agreements.