The trade union SIPTU has strongly criticised the Department of Health for urging the Government to reduce the minimum wage for care workers in the residential sector.

The Irish Times reported Wednesday on a memo sent to Cabinet recommending a reduction in the minimum wage for social care staff who sleep over in residential childcare and intellectual disability centres.

SIPTU Health Division Organiser, Paul Bell, said this warranted an explanation from the Minister for Health Simon Harris.

“It is unacceptable that the Department of Health is promoting and actively advancing the case for a two-tier minimum wage for workers in our health service which it deems to be ‘inactive’ during the night period of their duty,” said Mr Bell.

“It is very disappointing that the Department of Health would promote such a move which, if accepted, could serve as a means to undermine the application of the minimum wage in the wider economy.”

A memo sent by the Department of Health in response to the proposed increased minimum wage advised against increasing the rate for “sleepover hours”.

This applies to more than 4,000 staff working in residential and respite facilities who provide a service over 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The nature of the position requires staff to sleep over at their workplace on several occasions during the week.

Ms Bell said: “We are calling on the Minster for Health, Simon Harris, to clarify the terms of the advice on this issue which he received from the Department.

“He must also state what he intends to do in order to reduce the number of ‘sleepover’ hours which health workers are forced to work.”

In the memo to Government, the Human Resources unit of the Department of Health advised against any increase in minimum wage for the “sleepover hours”.

“It is clear that any further increase in the minimum wage will have a significant impact on labour costs for all hours spent on sleepover duty which is essentially inactive working time.

Surprise

“As this time is spent sleeping, there is merit in consideration being given to introducing a reduced minimum hourly rate for inactive work of this nature.”

Prior to September 2014, time spent by employees on sleepover duty had not been considered to be working time and had been paid at a set fee for an eight-hour sleepover.

However, the Labour Court recommended time spent on sleepovers should be acknowledged as constituting working time and should be paid at the minimum wage hourly rate.

The Government did not accept the department’s recommendation.

It increased the minimum wage in last week’s Budget. From January 1st, it will rise to €9.25 from €9.15 per hour.

It is understood the department’s memo caused concern and surprise among Ministers who rejected the proposals.

According to the department, there are approximately 4,000 workers in residential and respite services within the disability sectors, which represent approximately 40 per cent of the overall staff.