The Fair Work Commission’s decision to offer a 15% interim wage increase – while continuing to consider a full 25% increase – is informed by the findings of 2018 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. The FWC recognised that work in feminised industries – including care work – has been historically undervalued and that the reason for that undervaluation is likely to be gender-based.  It recommended a 25% wage increase for aged care workers which is backed by unions.

The Royal Commission reported that a wages gap exists between aged care workers and workers performing equivalent functions in the acute health sector. Successive governments have made several failed attempts to address that gap by providing additional funds to providers in the hope that they would be passed on to aged care workers by way of increased wages. They were not.