CARE FIRM ‘FAILED TO PAY STAFF LIVING WAGE RISE’ DESPITE WELSH GOVT CASH

Company accused of withholding six months of backpay to workers

A CARE provider in Gwynedd has been accused of withholding a living wage pay rise from carers.

In April 2022, the Welsh Government gave care workers a pay uplift to bring them in line with the Real living Wage.

Funds were provided to Gwynedd Council, who then transferred the money to the care provider Achieve Together, which supports adults with learning disabilities, autism and associated complex needs.

However, Achieve Together, who say they deliver support to over 2,300 people in almost 400 local care homes across Wales and England, did not pass on that pay rise to their workers.

They have instead been accused of withholding the money which was allocated specifically to care workers on minimum wage at the time.

Documents shown to our sister paper The Daily Post confirm that Achieve Together received funds from Gwynedd Council to pay its workers the Real Living Wage.

They also confirm that the care provider has refused to issue back pay to staff which is “rightfully theirs”, according to Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS Mabon ap Gwynfor.

Gwynedd Council transferred the public funds to Achieve Together on April 1, 2022, in order for the pay rise to go through.

Some members of staff received a pay rise six months later, but Achieve Together have refused to pay any backpay to staff for the period between April and October.

Mr ap Gwynfor said: “In December 2021, the Welsh Government announced funding to ensure that care workers received the real living wage, which was due to be paid to care workers from April 2022.

“My understanding is that the Welsh Government provided the funds for the local authorities, and in my constituency, at least, I know that Gwynedd Council in turn, passed those funds on to the care providers.

“However, one provider, Achieve Together, who provide care services to vulnerable people in Dwyfor Meirionnydd, has failed to pay its workers that uplift for the period between April to October 2022.

“This is money that is rightly the wages of its workforce.

“The company say that they can’t pay out because not all authorities have passported the funds on, but it’s not theirs to keep.

“It begs the question what exactly have they done with the money, and when can workers expect to see the pay that is rightfully theirs.

“It is shocking that frontline care workers on the minimum wage did not receive the money owed to them until October 2022, with some still waiting for their pay rise and being told that they won’t receive any backpay.

“Care workers across Dwyfor Meirionnydd provide an invaluable service to those they look after, and yet they’re amongst those worst affected by the cost-of-living crisis.

“To withhold their hard earned pay lift is reprehensible.

“I’ve asked Welsh Government to look into this as a matter of urgency and received assurances that the matter will be investigated.

“I have also written again to Achieve Together seeking clarity as to where this money has gone and why workers have been denied money that is rightfully theirs.”

A Cyngor Gwynedd spokesperson said: “We have come to an agreement with all our care service providers to pay the Real Living Wage and we have measures in place to ensure that this happens.

“It would not be appropriate for us to comment on the details of the contracts we have with any specific care provider.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Paying care workers the Real Living Wage is a key commitment of this government.

“We are concerned over the claims that the funding we are providing, which should go straight into the pockets of care workers, has not yet been passed on to staff.

“We are working with our partner organisations to agree a solution to ensure the backdated payments reach those it was intended to support.”

Achieve Together has been approached for comment.