Love doesn’t pay the bills

Many nannies and housekeepers won’t receive anything from government coronavirus schemes, writes Miranda Hall for OpenDemocracy. A minimum income guarantee could protect all workers – including migrants.

“Key workers, including care home staff, nursery staff and nurses, have been described repeatedly as ​‘heroes’ in the past few weeks. Rather than ​‘heroes’, they need recognition as workers. Workers are entitled to pay and protections. Heroes are expected to sacrifice everything for their ‘<3’ of the NHS. But love won’t pay people’s rent or their meals. Instead of romanticising this kind of sacrifice, we should ensure that no one is expected to sacrifice their livelihoods or lives when it can be avoided.”

Read the full article