Care workers at homes for the elderly have been directed to take partial industrial action, including not helping in the washing of residents, by the Union Haddiema Maghqudin as from Tuesday.

The care workers at St Vincent de Paul have been directed not to help in the washing of elderly people, while others working at homes for the elderly will not do any work outside the home, union section secretary John Briffa said.

According to Mr Briffa, the union had long been insisting that the care workers at the homes for the elderly be paid an allowance like other employees working with the elderly.

Contacted by The Times, Mr Briffa said this allowance was granted to a number of other workers because of the risks they incurred through their work with elderly people. He said when care workers started working at St Vincent de Paul three years ago, the union asked the government to start giving an allowance to them as well, since they did almost the same job as nursing aides.

There are about 60 care workers at St Vincent de Paul and the government's homes for the elderly.

Helen D'Amato, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Community Care, said when contacted that at this stage she would rather not comment and leave the channels of discussion open. She said the issue was in the hands of the Management and Personnel Office.