Care workers to get £500 government bonus

Social care workers in Wales will be given a one-off payment of £500, First Minister Mark Drakeford (pictured) has announced.

The money will be available to 64,000 care home workers and domiciliary care workers across the country.

Speaking at today's Welsh Government press conference, Mr Drakeford said the payment provides recognition for a workforce who are ''under-valued and overlooked.''

''They are undertaking tasks, which involve a high level of intimate personal care, often accepting a greater degree of risk and responsibility,'' Drakeford said.

''Many of our social care workers are juggling their own personal caring responsibilities with their professional ones.

''I want our social care workforce to know their hard work is both appreciated and recognised.''

He also called on the UK Government not to tax the payment, allowing workers to keep the full amount, calling for ''an exception in these truly exceptional circumstances.''