Scotland's army of local authority carers are the victims of sex discrimination, according to trade union GMB.
To work in the sector, carers need to pay Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registration fees, which cost upwards of £35 a year, but work costs are usually already paid for in other, male-dominated sectors.
In a letter sent to Cosla, Keir Greenaway, GMB senior organiser for public services, said: “For employees who are in local authority employment who are required to hold a ‘special driving licence’ i.e. an HGC, LGV, PCV or any other special driving licence, the costs of obtaining this licence are paid for by the employer.
“These roles are predominantly filled by men. In contrast, SSSC registration costs are not covered.
Registration is a requirement for a workforce, predominantly made up of women.
“Local authorities have provided no legitimate explanation as to why this disparity exists.”
Greenaway added that while he accepted there is currently a working group on professional fees and that the payment of SSSC fees was part of the 2022 wage claim, he believes “urgent action is required”.
He said: “This week, inflation in the UK has reached a 40-year high. The Consumer Price Index has reached nine per cent and Retail Price Index has reached 11.1 per cent.
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis … where social carers are drastically underpaid and undervalued, expecting them to the cover this cost is not only unfair, we have been advised it is discriminatory.”
He added: “It is unacceptable for female workers to continue to face discrimination, especially those that worked on the front line … to provide care to our most vulnerable throughout the worst of
the pandemic.
“This is an act of indirect discrimination of female employees implemented by local authorities across Scotland.”
More than 1000 GMB members have signed the union’s “pledge” to get SSSC fees paid immediately.
Cosla said it had “received a private letter from our colleagues at the GMB” and it was due to be discussed at a meeting.
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