Subcontracted care workers, who work in government-run hospitals and homes for the elderly, will have their salaries aligned with that of their colleagues who are directly employed by the State, the General Workers’ Union said.

Over the past months the union said it had been engaged in negotiations with the government to rectify this discrepancy that was resulting in precarious employment.

The government had now issued a clarification saying that, from this year, the subcontracted care workers would get paid €5.47 an hour in line with government grade-17 rates, apart from getting the government bonus owed to them.

Next year, the hourly rate will increase to €5.61 and will add up to €5.86 when factoring in the government 25c bonus. They will also be paid for arrears, dating back to January.