What NSW childcare workers will get paid after landmark deal

One of the lowest-paid sectors in the country will receive a pay rise just in time for Christmas in a landmark deal.

Childcare workers will receive a 15 per cent pay rise. Picture: NewsWire / Dan Peled

Childcare workers have secured a major win after a landmark pay deal was reached ahead of Christmas.

The sector is one of the lowest paid in the country and has been marred by staff shortages.

However, after months of lobbying, 12,000 workers across 64 employers will now receive a 15 per cent pay rise just in time for Christmas.

The deal has been endorsed by the Fair Work Commission after being funded by the Albanese government’s newly-passed Wage Justice for Early Childhood Educators legislation.

The decision marks the first bargaining application supported by the government’s Secure Jobs, Better Pay industrial relations reforms.

Childcare workers will receive a 15 per cent pay rise. Picture: NewsWire / Dan Peled

United Workers Union national president Jo Schofield said the pay bump was a “much needed” early Christmas present.

“They’re some of the lowest-paid workers in our economy and they do some of the most important work in educating children and supporting families,” Ms Schofield said.

“It’s a great Christmas present for educators after such a long and heartfelt campaign.

“This money is much needed – many are the bread winners for their families and I think it’ll also not just be a boost over Christmas but it will help the sector deal with some of the really chronic shortages they’ve had because they’ve been unable to keep skilled and qualified workers.”

She said workers had been earning “well below equivalent professions” as cost-of-living pressures grew.

“That’s meant so many of them have left the job they love to go earn more money, so it’s a really important mechanism for the sector and for children and families as well,” she said.

Changes in industrial relations laws brought in by Labor had “really made this possible for educators”, Ms Schofield said.

“(It’s) really opened up so many more opportunities for women workers, so I acknowledge that these are changes that modernise the system and actually put women on equal footing to men in being able to bargain effectively.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese earlier announced the government would fund the pay rise. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Ms Schofield added “there’s no going back” following the deal.

“Early education gives children their best start in life and gives families the support they need to return to the workforce,” she said.

“The message for providers in the sector is simple: the easiest, quickest and most reliable way for educators to get their 15 per cent pay rise is for their provider to sign the agreement.”

Federal Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said the wage increase would help attract more early childhood education and care workers, as well as encourage those already in the field.

“(Childcare) workers deserve to be fairly paid and feel properly valued and that’s why the Albanese government is delivering this much needed pay rise,” Mr Watt said.

“This is another example of the Albanese government’s efforts to help Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn.

“Importantly, we’re making sure that our early educators are getting fair wages without putting cost of living pressure on families.”

Anthony Albanese earlier said “giving the next generation the best start in life is essential” after announcing the government would fund the pay rise in a $3.6bn investment.

“We can never thank them enough for what they do – but we can make sure they are properly valued and fairly paid. Today our government is doing just that,” the Prime Minister said.

“Today we deliver fair pay for the people who make this possible.”