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Frontline Covid jobs at back of pay queue

Geraden Cann

The pay for frontline Covid workers has been called unfair as figures reveal the lowest paid government office position created in response to Covid earns more.

Figures released under the Official Information Act show the Ministry of Health created 237 positions in its Covid response directorate.

The roles with the lowest salaries were administrators, whose duties include setting up meetings, booking rooms, circulating material, taking minutes, and reconciling invoices. They earned $46,094-$63,081 – more than the average MIQ (managed isolation and quarantine) workers, who were largely on the living wage and could expect to earn $45,986 for a 40-hour week.

The administrators also earned more than hospital healthcare assistants and aides, whose wages range from $40,382 to $48,003, according to the NZ Nurses Organisation. Aides perform tasks such as making beds and changing water jugs, while healthcare assistants directly care for patients but do not give medication or injections.

Unite Union national secretary John Crocker said MIQ staff should be paid more because they were fulfilling a vital service, faced possible exposure to the virus, had increased duties and responsibility, and faced prejudice outside of work.

The risk MIQ workers run of coming into contact with Covid-19 are revealed by Ministry of Health figures.

They show that, as at June 14, there had been 983 MIQ guests diagnosed with Covid-19 and eight MIQ staff had tested positive after potential exposure from guests.

Crocker said there were issues keeping frontline workers’ pay low, including that these kinds of roles had been historically undervalued, were perceived as unskilled, and generally done by women.

‘‘The reason they should be paid more is their roles have changed. The work they are undertaking is more complicated, there are more processes and procedures to follow, and there is a high level of responsibility, not just to themselves personally but to the community as a whole.’’

Crocker said the fact most MIQ facilities were now paying the living wage of $22.10 an hour was a victory but the majority only started paying the wage a year after they became MIQs and some hotels still refused to pay it.

E tū union organiser Mat Danaher said the pay disparity showed how outsourcing of workers to private contractors had a negative impact on wages and conditions.

National News

en-nz

2021-06-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-18T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/282359747664552

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