There is a significant pay gap between Health Care Assistants in public and private employment.
A new European report has revealed a significant pay gap between the earnings of Health Care Assistants in the public and private sectors in some European countries, including Ireland.
The report from the European Federation of Public Service Unions found a 30% wage gap between HCAs
employed in public and private settings in Ireland.
SIPTU who contributed to the report said it vindicates what the union has been saying for years. There is a big disparity in pay between public and private healthcare for HCAs.
SIPTU's Sector Organiser said the current starting pay for a HCA commencing employment in the public service is €16.92 per hour rising to €21.39 per hour when they reach the top of their incremental pay scale.
Sharon Cregan said in theory, a HCA in the private sector could earn as little as the minimum wage which is currently set at €12.70 per hour.
She added HCAs in the public service have seen their annualised salary increase by approximately 24% between 2016 and 2023. They are due further pay increases on annualised salary under the current Public Service Pay Agreement of more than a cumulative 5% up to June 2026.
