As petrol prices hit an all-time high this week, 23,000
home support workers are struggling to make ends meet while
the Government is silent on a review of their mileage
rate.
“These workers travel between clients all day
caring for elderly and disabled New Zealanders in their own
homes and they have to fund and maintain their own car to do
it, on wages at or near the minimum wage,” said Fleur
Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service
Association Te Pukenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“Workers
campaigned hard earlier this year to win a mileage rate
increase. That was a real win. But the new rate of 82.5
cents per kilometre is still falls below what the IRD says
it actually costs to run a car for work, and it is
temporary.
“The Government promised a review of the
rate by 1 July. It is now October and these workers have
heard nothing.
“On top of having their pay equity
claim ripped away, this is a kick in the teeth for these
workers.
“This low-paid predominantly female workforce
hold our health system together. “
Becks, a home
support worker in rural Waimate was shocked to see the
petrol price reach $3.88 this week. She said, “I have
clients who are only 15-minute visits but by the time I
factor in the distances between them and what it costs to
run my car, I’m effectively paying to do those
jobs.”
Sonia, a home support worker in Greymouth said,
“I’m on a low wage and I live alone. I can’t afford
this. I do this work because I love it but it’s just
getting so hard to get by. It’s not OK.”
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Fitzsimons
said, “With petrol prices hitting $3.88 per litre in areas
like Waimate, home support workers urgently need a mileage
rate increase that covers their actual costs, and they
deserve a response from the Minister.”
The PSA has written
to Health Minister Simeon Brown this week calling for a rate
increase and asking for the outcome of the 2026 review of
rates, which was due on 1 July.
The PSA and Etū have
an ongoing Employment Relations Authority claim against
Health New Zealand arguing that requiring workers to fund
and maintain their own vehicles as a condition of employment
breaches the Employment Relations
Act.
Note:
The
Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing
and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central
government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health
boards and community
groups.
