More than 55,000 informal and contract employees have signed as much as an Australian-first sick pay scheme in its first yr, the Victorian authorities has revealed.
Workers with out sick depart entitlements are allowed to entry as much as 38 hours of sick and carers pay beneath the taxpayer-funded scheme, which has seen greater than 80,000 funds since March final yr.
The depart was paid on the nationwide minimal wage of about $20 per hour.
Retail and gross sales assistants, hospitality employees and aged and incapacity care employees have been essentially the most extremely represented amongst these registered for this system.
Other eligible employees included safety guards, cleaners, cooks, quick meals employees and kitchen arms.
Victorian Employment Minister Ben Carroll mentioned the scheme, which is sort of midway by way of a two-year pilot program, would assist companies turn out to be safer for his or her empoyees and be extra productive as organisations.
“The pandemic showed us just how many casual and contract workers have been forced to choose between a day’s pay or their health,” Mr Carroll mentioned.
“Around one in five casual and contract workers works more than one job to earn a living – many without any access to sick and carers pay.
“The program is delivering sick pay to workers in industries with the highest rates of casual and contract workers whose work hours are often unpredictable and low-paid, and where people facing disadvantage are over-represented.”
The Andrews authorities has spent $245.7m on the Sick Pay Guarantee pilot, however it’s but to be confirmed whether or not the scheme will proceed past March 2024.
“Workers shouldn’t feel forced to go to work sick because they can’t afford to miss a day’s pay,” Mr Carroll mentioned.
“This scheme creates more security for Victorian casual and contract workers, supporting them when they’re sick or caring for a loved one.”
