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Press Release

PANN WELCOMES NURSERIES' MINIMUM WAGE PROBE AND CALLS FOR A NATIONAL PAY SCALE FOR ALL NURSERY NURSES AND CHILDCARE WORKERS

4 July 2006

The Professional Association of Nursery Nurses (PANN) today welcomed the joint statement by the DTI and HM Revenue & Customs that HMRC will begin a yearlong enforcement campaign against nurseries who, they say, are not paying their staff the national minimum wage. However, PANN is gravely concerned by the over simplistic statement made by the Government Employment Minister Jim Fitzpatrick:

“When parents are paying for their childcare I’m sure they would expect the provider to have sound employment practices. The minimum wage is there for a reason and the Government is determined to ensure that workers get the pay they deserve”.

PANN has campaigned for a nationally recognised pay scale for all childcarers, along the lines of teacher’s pay and conditions, regulated by law. We fully understand that this would require increased direct investment by Government but without such investment the Government will fail to deliver the many childcare and early years commitments in its Ten Year Strategy.

Tricia Pritchard, Senior Professional Officer said, “By merely resorting to tougher enforcement measures forcing nurseries to increase the salaries paid to their staff, we fear the Government will force some nurseries out of business and as a result we will see nursery nurses losing their jobs. Without Government support, nurseries will have no choice but to pass on the increased overheads to parents who are already paying up to £200 per week for childcare”



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