Private Sector and HSE
Care workers working in the Private Sector are very badly paid and treated compared to their colleagues working for the HSE. Even though the Private sector are getting the hours, they are not getting the right pay and conditions and this is the way these private companies are operating.
Working conditions in the private sector are a lot different to their colleagues in the HSE, for instance in regards to the very long shifts they work they don’t get the benefits the HSE staff are getting. HSE benefits are sick pay for 13 weeks if you are sick. Holiday pay for 4 weeks every year.
Parental Leave, Maternity Leave, Bereavement leave, travel allowance and carers benefit (carers benefit is if a member of staff working for the HSE had to stop working to look after a family relative who has become ill, they are allowed to take 2 years off and they will get carers benefit. This means their job will be there after the 2 years is up by this time the employee has to return to work or resign their post) The private sector don’t have these benefits.
Some private companies are paying travel allowance ranging from €14-20 per month, some are not. Sick pay is based on their length of service as is holiday pay but nowhere near the HSE. Other leave they take at their own expense.
Below is the rates of pay for the HSE employees. Even though some state that the rates of pay for the private sector range from €14/€16 per hour, the rates of pay for most of the private sector pay really ranges from €11.40/€13.75 per hour with only €1 per hour added for Sunday and weekend night pay.
| Annual Salary | Regular Rate | Night/weekend Rate | |
| Point 1 | €28,000 | €14 | €16 – €31 |
| Point 2 | €29,800 | €14 | €17 – €33 |
| Point 3 | €30,800 | €15 | €17.50 – €34 |
| Point 4 | €31,500 | €15.50 | €18 – €35 |
| Point 5 | €32,300 | €15 | €17 – €33 |
| Point 6 | €33,000 | €16.25 | €19 – €36.50 |
| Point 7 | €33,500 | €16.50 | €19.25 – €37 |
| Point 8 | €34,350 | €17 | €20 – €38 |
| Point 9 | €35,200 | €17.25 | €20 – €39 |
Join the Independent Workers Union to fight for fair pay and conditions!
Home helps and carers deserve a fair wage whether they work in the public or the private sector. Home helps and carers employed by the HSE only got their fair pay after they stood up for themselves and organised into a Union. Private sector carers have to do the same.
If you are a Home Help and are looking for more information, please contact the IWU’s Home Helps and Carers rep, Margaret Healy.
Margaret Healy – 087 246 9070 / margaret.healy@union.ie