21 September
All the ANMF (SA Branch) wants for Christmas in 2021 – aside from world peace and a cure to crush COVID forever - is Christmas public holiday penalty rates for employees.
Christmas this year falls on a Saturday, with the normal Christmas public holiday moving to the following Monday. The decision, which could impact up to 7,000 care workers, means people who work on that Saturday will only be paid normal Saturday penalty rates, not the higher Christmas holiday penalty rates.
It’s understood South Australia is the only state or territory in the country this year in which Christmas Saturday will not be declared as a public holiday. Everywhere else both Saturday, December 25, and Monday, December 27, will be declared as Christmas public holidays.
As a result, there are fears care organisations will struggle to find workers to fill shifts in SA on the Saturday.
“It does absolutely affect people in our sector and it shouldn't,’’ ANMF (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM told ABC Radio.
“The reality is that this is a very special day to spend with family and friends, and they should be compensated for their sacrifice.
“In the most part people who are either registered or enrolled nurses will not be affected by this. But people who are part of the nursing family, who are care workers or personal care assistants, will be losing out. We believe there are around 7,000 care workers in South Australia who would be awfully affected or potentially affected by this. That’s the number of people who work in the sector.
“As much as the Treasurer has said the former government failed on this, they did fail on this, they should never have done it the way they did, but the Liberal Party is now in government and they should govern,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“So, they can take the bull by the horns and show some leadership on it. And wouldn’t it be wonderful if Steven Marshall did decide, on behalf of the Government, that that public holiday should be on both days?
“Our view is the Government should change the law to reflect this, and employers then should pay it. And we should be recognising our really hard-working and dedicated care workers for the work that they do,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“I really think to fail to make provision for them both undervalues them, but also undervalues those people that they are caring for.
“So, we’re calling on all employers to pay them Christmas holiday rates, we’re also calling on the Government to change the law to make sure people can be adequately compensated on this very important and special day.’’