MORE than 100 organisations have written to Scotland’s First Minister to say £12 per hour is not enough for social care workers.

In recent years, the SNP-Green Scottish government has set the wage floor for those working for social care providers with public contracts, such as with councils and NHS boards through their joint health and social care partnerships.

The rate is set at the real living wage and is due to rise from £10.90 in the current year to £12 in the next.

But in a letter sent to Humza Yousaf drafted by the Coalition of Care & Support Providers in Scotland (CCPS), 110 signatories, including employers, charities and carers’ representatives, argue that it falls short and sends out the wrong message to workers.

The letter reads: “With the Scottish government setting the new base rate of pay for social care staff at £12 per hour from next spring — simply matching the updated real living wage and no more — the message to these staff is clear: you are only worth the bare minimum.

“This is despite the fundamental work they do supporting people to thrive and live independent lives — work that is at the heart of your vision for ‘equality, opportunity and community’ in Scotland. Twelve pounds per hour is not enough.”

CCPS chief executive Rachel Cackett said: “Organisations that provide social care are rapidly losing staff because the current pay of £10.90 is simply too low to retain them and they migrate to better-paid jobs elsewhere.

“It is a scandal that, in communities across Scotland, people who need support to live, thrive and stay independent can’t get it because there aren’t the staff available.”

A spokesperson for Unison Scotland, which has thousands of members in social care around the country, echoed the comments, telling the Star: “Social care has a desperate staff recruitment and retention crisis — low pay is a big part of that.

“The Scottish government accepted the case for sectoral bargaining four years ago, well before they embarked on their shambolic national care service Bill.

“A Bill that does not mention workforce issues.”

Social care minister Maree Todd said: “The creation of the national care service will help to provide consistency in further improved pay and conditions, access to training and development and ensuring a career in social care is attractive and rewarding — but we are beginning to make those improvements now.”