Wage instead of benefit wanted

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 47

Wage instead of benefit wanted

PA Wellington A care-giver’s wage availably to all those who care fort elderly people, the disabled and children should replace the family benefit, \the Women’s Electoral Lobby says. The lobby said it agreed with the Minister of Social Welfare, Dr Michael Cullen, that the family benefit was outmoded and should be scrapped. “Six dollars \a week for the caring of children is ridiculous,” it said. ’ “We recognise the importance of this , work in our society and support the provision of equal pay for work of equal value." A spokeswoman, Ms

Emma Alcock, said the level of the care-giver’s wage would need a lot of analysis. “The work care-givers do would have to be evaluated in terms of the skills involved and the value of the product, in the same way that any other job like nursing, fire-fighting or building would be evaluated. “We believe every job can be evaluated in terms of the level of responsibility and other criteria.” Ms Alcock said all people should be paid for the work they did. "If it is of benefit to society, society should pay.”