The industry training organisation Careerforce has been given the role of determining qualification equivalency under the Care and Support Worker (Pay Equity) Settlement Act 2017 which has lead to sizeable pay increases for about 55,000 care and support workers.
Ray Lind, Careerforce chief executive said it had teams dedicated to responding to the 150 requests per day about whether workers qualifications, including overseas qualifications, are equivalent to the level 2, 3 or 4 New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.
The highest pay increase under the settlement is for staff with 12 years experience and/or either hold or have the equivalent to the Level 4 certificate. Their pay increases from $23.50 an hour from July 1 and then steadily increasing until it reaches $27 an hour on July 1 2021.
More information on the assessment process can be found by contacting Careerforce on 0800 277 486.
