SCOTTISH government plans to bring sectoral bargaining to 110,000 social care workers has been hailed as “historic” by the country’s largest public services union.

Minister for Social Care and Wellbeing Tom Arthur outlined the plan to create a voluntary social care bargaining body bringing trade union and employers together to negotiate terms, conditions and wages in a sector which accounts for 8 per cent of Scotland’s workforce.

Unison Scotland social care lead Jennifer McCarey said the initiative would “give every social care worker a voice, could transform pay and conditions for staff and will, at last, recognise their complex skills.”

The SNP government hopes the bargaining body will be up and running by the end of this year, ready to act as the forum for pay deals implemented in 2027-28.

The announcement, which included immediate action to fund raising the maternity and paternity entitlements of social care workers in the private and voluntary sectors to match those of their council colleagues, came after years of campaigning across the trade union movement.

Mr Arthur said the move marked “a major milestone in building a social care sector which we value, which we can be proud of — and that any of us may one day depend on.”

He added: “Social care workers provide essential, skilled support to the people we love, often in demanding and emotionally challenging circumstances. They deserve pay and conditions that reflect that.

“Fairer working conditions are essential to making social care the attractive and rewarding career which it should be. 

“I thank trade unions and provider representatives for their positive engagement on this issue and look forward to close co-operation with them as we deliver sectoral bargaining.

Welcoming it as a “historic moment” for both carers and the cared-for alike, Ms McCarey said: “Unison led the campaign for sector-wide bargaining and unions are ready to provide a strong presence at the negotiating table.

“Social care workers are paid just pennies above the minimum. Now staff in the sector can work together to demand major improvements.

“That’ll affect not just them but all those they care for.

“The details of how the negotiating body will work need to be finalised, but this commitment is good news.

“Unions look forward to meeting the minister to discuss further.”