Early childhood education workers are set to receive a 15 percent pay raise over two years as part of a worker retention incentive.
The perk will only be implemented through the workers’ workplaces, and childcare establishments and other eligible organizations will have to sign an agreement to get involved.
The government said that all funds must be used to pay for the increased wages. The pay raise will be phased in through 2022.
It’s expected to happen in stages, with the first 10 percent being implemented in December 2024 and the last 5 percent in 2025.
However, in order to receive the funds, the participating establishments must first agree not to increase fees by more than four percent between August 8 and 7.
According to the government, over 200,000 workers in the early childhood education sector are eligible for the wage hike.
These include teachers, support personnel, cooks, and coordinators. In addition, the government noted that teachers who are currently paid at the prevailing award rate will receive an increase of around $100 a week.
The first regular payments to the eligible providers will be made in January 2025.
The cash bonus will then increase to $150 a week in December 2025.
Although the government noted that the fee increase will help reduce the pressure on families’ out-of-pocket expenses, it also said that the program is aimed at ending the debate about childcare.
Early education is very important to children’s development, and it’s about lifting them up and preparing them for school.
The government noted that the wage hike will benefit both the workers and the families.