After months of campaigning, I am delighted that the Government has announced that it will not fine social care providers who have been found to have underpaid workers for ‘sleep-in’ shifts before 26th July 2017. This is very good news for the social care sector in Thirsk and Malton and across the country who were faced with fines and a large bill to back pay their workers who were receiving a reduced wage for ‘sleep-in’ shifts. In a further measure the Government says that employers now have until 2nd October before the underpayment for ‘sleep in’ shifts will be enforced. I have spoken many times to ministers about this issue and raised it in the House of Commons on several occasions. In a letter I received today from the Small Business Minister in charge of this policy, Margot James told me that the Government wants to minimise the disruption to the social care sector, whilst ensuring that workers are paid the Minimum Wage (not a reduced rate) for overnight shifts. Ms James also said that she would be working with representatives of the social care sector to see how it might be possible to minimise any impact on provision of social care as a result of this situation.
It is still a very worrying time for social care sector which cares for vulnerable people 24 hours a day. The sector’s total liability, going back six years, is £400 million at the most conservative estimate, and going forward, providers would collectively have to cover an additional £200 million a year in wage bills. I will do everything I can to help ease the transition in order to ensure that providers do not have to withdraw services to those most in need.