Scotland's military of native authority carers are the victims of intercourse discrimination, in line with commerce union GMB.
To work within the sector, carers must pay Scottish Social Companies Council (SSSC) registration charges, which price upwards of £35 a yr, however work prices are often already paid for in different, male-dominated sectors.
In a letter despatched to Cosla, Keir Greenaway, GMB senior organiser for public providers, mentioned: “For workers who're in native authority employment who're required to carry a ‘particular driving licence’ i.e. an HGC, LGV, PCV or every other particular driving licence, the prices of acquiring this licence are paid for by the employer.
“These roles are predominantly crammed by males. In distinction, SSSC registration prices usually are not lined.
Registration is a requirement for a workforce, predominantly made up of ladies.
“Native authorities have supplied no authentic clarification as to why this disparity exists.”
Greenaway added that whereas he accepted there's at present a working group on skilled charges and that the fee of SSSC charges was a part of the 2022 wage declare, he believes “pressing motion is required”.
He mentioned: “This week, inflation within the UK has reached a 40-year excessive. The Client Worth Index has reached 9 per cent and Retail Worth Index has reached 11.1 per cent.
“Within the midst of a cost-of-living disaster … the place social carers are drastically underpaid and undervalued, anticipating them to the quilt this price will not be solely unfair, we've got been suggested it's discriminatory.”
He added: “It's unacceptable for feminine employees to proceed to face discrimination, particularly those who labored on the entrance line … to offer care to our most susceptible all through the worst of
the pandemic.
“That is an act of oblique discrimination of feminine staff carried out by native authorities throughout Scotland.”
Greater than 1000 GMB members have signed the union’s “pledge” to get SSSC charges paid instantly.
Cosla mentioned it had “obtained a personal letter from our colleagues on the GMB” and it was attributable to be mentioned at a gathering.
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