Hundreds of Edinburgh care workers have still not received 'immediate' pay rise promised in April

Hailed as heroes but denied a wage increase

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced an 'immediate' pay rise in April

HUNDREDS of care workers in Edinburgh are still waiting for the “immediate” pay rise which the Scottish Government promised them in April.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced the 3.3 per cent rise in recognition of the heroic work they were doing in the coronavirus crisis.

But Edinburgh Integration Joint Board claims it has not been given the funding by the Scottish Government to pay the increase.

Ms Freeman announced on April 12 that all adult social care workers would as a minimum receive the Scottish Living Wage of £9.30 an hour from April 1.

She said care workers’ pay was often delayed for months by lengthy negotiations. But she insisted: “Today’s agreement means that there will be no delay – adult care staff will get a pay increase immediately.”

Des Loughney of the Unite union said: “It was presented as a real reward for workers who had been working in difficult and dangerous circumstances in care homes and so on. Why they didn’t ensure the promise would be honoured is amazing.”

Most of those affected are understood to be employed by private firms contracted to the EIJB.

An EIJB spokeswoman said: “We recognise the importance of compensating health and social care workers suitably for the key roles they undertake.

“Without the funding commitment from the Scottish Government, the board is not in a position to grant a 3.3 per cent uplift on the payments we make to providers contracted to deliver health and social care. Once the funds assured by the Scottish Government have been confirmed, we will action the uplift immediately.”