National Insurance hike not the way to fund social care

GMB, the union for carers, has responded to reports of a National Insurance hike to raise money to fund social care.

Rachel Harrison, GMB National Officer said:

“We all know our crumbling social care system desperately needs more cash.

“But raising regressive national insurance - which takes money from the pockets of the lowest paid workers, is not the way to do it.

“However the cash is raised, a portion of it must be ring fenced cash to improve the pay, terms and conditions of workers across social care to reflect the skilled and valued job they do.

“The largely women workforce in social care deserve no less than the average UK wage, £15 an hour. Government and employers must make this a priority.”