In the Guardian today:

Britain [sic] risks undermining the care workers it depends on. A new Fair Pay Agreement [FPA] is promised, with the government overseeing pioneering sector-wide negotiations aimed at improving the lot of these undervalued workers. The deal is intended to come into force from April 2028.

Yet by singling out this group for the longest wait before they belong in the UK – with high-paid workers on a faster track – the Home Office seems to be validating the deprecation of this essential work that helps explain why it’s under-rewarded in the first place.

The hope is that improved terms and conditions will tempt UK-born workers to take up some of the 7% of jobs in the sector that are still unfilled (mercifully down from 10% a few years ago).

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/apr/26/britain-undermining-care-workers-depends-on-labour-immigration

What does Anas Sarwar think?

Anas Sarwar has previously stated (e.g., in late 2025) that Scotland “cannot rely on migrants to fill social care jobs,” criticizing “poverty wages” and calling for better pay and career structures to attract local workers while acknowledging a “broken” UK immigration system that needs fixing. He has pushed for a more bespoke immigration approach for Scotland where possible, but within UK frameworks.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c39pkm3r8wlo

What has Sarwar’s party done in government at Westminster as it approaches its two-year mark in July 26?

Public consultation on the FPA process ran from September 2025 to 16 January 2026.

Regulations to establish the Negotiating Body are expected in autumn 2026.

Negotiations on the first agreement are slated for 2027.

The first Fair Pay Agreement is targeted to take effect in 2028.

Anyone think care workers in England under Labour will get a meaningful hike, even by 2028?

What has the SNP Government in Scotland done?

The rate increased from £12.60 per hour (effective April 2025) to £13.45 per hour from 1 April 2026 — an uplift of about 6.75%. The Scottish Government provides funding to local authorities to ensure this minimum is paid, and it must be passed on to eligible staff (including Personal Assistants in Self-Directed Support arrangements).

https://ilf.scot/news-post/update-scottish-social-care-wage-uplift/