The Scottish government must use its 2026 budget to deliver a meaningful pay rise for social care staff, says UNISON today (Monday).
UNISON, Scotland’s largest social care, says the sector is struggling to recruit and retain staff because pay remains barely above the minimum wage. Most care workers earn £12.60 an hour, just 39p more than the legal minimum.
The union says low pay is the single biggest barrier to fixing the care crisis. Without urgent investment in wages, staffing shortages will deepen, leaving vulnerable people in hospital beds for much longer than necessary.
Improving wages must go hand in hand with a proper pay, adds the union.
UNISON says repeated promises by the Scottish government to fix social care have been broken. Last year saw the first national strikes in the sector for more than a decade, while charities have warned that care providers could close due to chronic underfunding.
The consequences of failing to act will be felt across the NHS, adds the union. The health service faces longer waiting lists and more pressure on hospitals due to bed-blocking caused by a lack of available care in communities.
UNISON Scotland social care lead Jennifer McCarey said: “Care workers are paid pennies above the minimum wage, despite doing skilled, demanding and emotionally tough work.
“This budget must be the turning point. Investing in staff is the only way to begin rebuilding social care, supporting vulnerable people and easing pressure on the NHS.
“Raising pay won’t solve everything, but nothing will change until this fundamental issue is addressed. This budget must give care workers and the people they support real hope for the future.”
Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the Scotland’s largest union providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.