Low pay among concerns for early years workers – survey

Early years educators working in the childcare sector are worried about low pay, staff shortages and stress according to a new survey from SIPTU.

The research also reveals that almost one in three childcare services are at risk of closure due to staff shortages.

The study shows that 86% identified low pay as their biggest work issue, followed by ‘pressure due to staff shortages’ and ‘stress and burnout’.

According to the research, 95% of early years educators are only able to ‘make ends meet’ with ‘difficulty’ or ‘great difficulty’.

For all grades of staff, including managers, 78% were unable to cope with an unexpected expense, such as replacing a washing machine.

More than one third of respondents said that they do not have enough time to take their legal entitlement to breaks.

30% of managers reported that their service is at risk of closure due to staff shortages.

The vast majority of services reported having to recruit staff over the past 12 months, a process that was reported as ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ for 95% managers.

The impact of staff shortages on quality for children was identified as the greatest concern by managers, followed by additional work for remaining staff, and difficultly in maintaining staff ratios.

The survey captured the experiences of 1,315 early years professionals including educators, childcare practitioners, room leaders and managers.

“The staffing crisis is continuing unbated and it is undermining quality for children and services for parents as qualified educators struggle to make ends meet,” SIPTU Head of Organising, Darragh O’Connor said.

“Unless low pay is comprehensively addressed by both Government and employers, services will be at risk of closure.

“Our survey shows a stark reality that nearly one in three services are at real risk of closure and that low pay is the driving factor. This is totally unacceptable and needs to change,” Mr O’Connor said.

Last month, a new Employment Regulation Order for the Early Years Services Sector commenced which increased the minimum hourly rates of pay for various roles in the industry.

The order applied to around 33,000 educators and it was estimated that 53% of those working in the sector would see their wages rise as a result of the agreement.

Under the order, Early Years Educators and School Age Childcare Practitioners saw their hourly minimum rate of pay increase from €13 to €13.65.

Lead Educators and School Age Childcare Coordinators saw rates go from €14 to €14.70 an hour.

SIPTU had proposed that the minimum hourly wage rate for employees in early years education be raised from €13 to €15.

However, childcare providers had warned that they may have to increase fees for parents to cover pay rises that go beyond the rate of inflation.

Many providers have agreed to freeze their fees to avail of the Government’s core funding scheme.