EARLY childcare workers have been left confused after being advised that not every worker would receive a much-deserved pay increase decades in the making.
The Federal Government announced that Childhood Education and Care providers could now apply for the Worker Retention Payment, giving ECEC workers the wage increase, however it would be up to individual workplaces to decide on whether to move forward with the process.
A childcare worker has told Local Ipswich News that there appears to be a longer road ahead for increased pay across the industry, despite what seemed to be the ground-breaking announcement from the government.
“The pay increase only applies to workers who are employed at centres where owners agree – a large percentage of owners will not apply if the block on the fee increase applies,” she said.
“Also, even if owners do agree to the terms, all workers must be part of a union to be eligible.”
With union membership at an all-time low across Australia across all industries, down from 47.4% in 1988 to 12.2% last year, this presents doubtful prospects of any wage increase.
The government has said it will fund a 15% wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) workers, tied to a commitment from Child Care Centres to limit fee increases.
The increase would be phased in over two years, and include a 10% increase from December 2024, and a further 5% increase from December 2025.
To be eligible to receive funding for the wage increase, ECEC services won’t be able to increase their fees by more than 4.4% over the next 12 months.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said this was an important condition that would keep downward pressure on childcare costs for local families in his electorate.
“Funding must be passed on in full to employees through increased wages,” he said. This is a win for workers, a win for families and will help ease cost of living pressures for Blair.
“Early educators are helping shape the youngest generation in Blair. They do important work, and we need to make sure they are properly paid.
“The child care debate is over. It’s not babysitting.”
“This is the cost-of-living double whammy – wages up for workers and keeping prices down for families.”
