Social workers to get wage boost (Daily Telegraph)

COMMUNITY organisations funded by the state government will be given extra cash to pay their workers in line with a fair work ruling mandating higher pay — but only after The Daily Telegraph raised questions about a funding shortfall.

The move comes after the NSW Council of Social Service warned the government that social workers would be forced out of work if funding was not increased.

A ruling by the Fair Work Commission in June has required the community services sector to boost pay for employees including social workers and domestic violence support workers by 1.75 per cent from July 1.

But because COVID-19 has delayed the state’s budget until November, government funded organisations were set to be forced to pay workers at a higher amount out of already-stretched budgets.

NCOSS CEO Joanna Quilty wrote to Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and minister Gareth Ward on June 24 asking for an immediate two per cent cash boost to cover the higher wages bill.

After questions from The Telegraph, a spokesman for Mr Ward said the government would give a 1.75 per cent cash injection for government-funded organisations “in line with the Fair Work Commission increase to wages”.

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