Report: Major Pay Gap Between Public and Private Healthcare Assistants

A recent study conducted across Europe has revealed a notable wage disparity between health care assistants (HCAs) working in public and private sectors in various countries, including Ireland. The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) report shows that HCAs in Ireland earn 30% less in private settings compared to their counterparts in public healthcare.

The report, which included input from SIPTU members, highlighted that the starting wage for an HCA in the public sector is €16.92 per hour, rising to €21.39 per hour upon reaching the top of the pay scale. In contrast, HCAs in the private sector may earn as little as the minimum wage, which is currently €12.70 per hour.

SIPTU Sector Organiser Sharon Cregan pointed out that public sector HCAs have experienced a salary increase of about 24% from 2016 to 2023, with additional pay rises expected under the Public Service Pay Agreement, amounting to more than 5% by June 2026.

The findings of the EPSU study confirm SIPTU’s longstanding concerns about the pay gap between public and private healthcare roles. Cregan noted that this issue extends beyond Ireland, as indicated by the report’s broader European scope, which includes data from unions in 15 countries.