The government announced on Friday that it had given its approval to a 2.5% increase in the wages of home helpers working with the elderly and disabled, a measure long awaited by the sector.
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This increase was provided for by an amendment to the branch's collective agreement, negotiated several months ago by the social partners, but which has since been awaiting the green light from the State.
It is now done, the government having approved the amendment in question, announced in a press release the Minister Delegate in charge of Autonomy, Brigitte Bourguignon.
"
This new grid is now opposable to the employers of the employees concerned and opens the site of upgrading the home trades wanted by the government,
" she commented.
This announcement comes the day after the adoption by the deputies of another mechanism to support the salaries of home helpers.
With 150 million euros for 2021, then 200 million per year for a full year, it should come into force next April.
The government hopes that the departments, responsible for home help, will double these amounts.
This device intervenes "
too late
", and the amounts released "
remain very far
" from those "
legitimately claimed by the players in the sector
", commented Friday the four main federations of home help structures.
Weighed down by “
very low wages which make many employees of the home of poor workers
”, the sector has great difficulties in recruiting, they recalled.
The government's endorsement of the 2.5% wage hike "
is a first step, we can only welcome it
", reacted to AFP Thierry d'Aboville, secretary general of the 'ADMR, one of these four federations.
But this gesture is equivalent to an envelope of only 85 million euros, whereas it would take 600, according to him, "
to have a real policy of attractiveness for this sector
".
Read also: Coronavirus: home carers cry out for help
After this 2.5% increase, the aid structures are therefore awaiting the green light from the State for another amendment to the collective agreement, also already negotiated, but which provides for an increase in wages of around 15%. %.
Referring to this point in her press release on Friday, Brigitte Bourguignon was content to call "
the departments and professional federations to dialogue to define the schedule and the terms and conditions of support for this upgrading
".