Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com
Hundreds of home support workers say rising fuel costs are making it increasingly difficult to care for some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people, with many now missing shifts, dropping clients, or considering leaving the sector altogether.
A joint survey by unions PSA and E tū of 921 home support workers paints a troubling picture of a workforce struggling to absorb the cost of travelling between clients while waiting for an overdue review of mileage allowances.
According to the survey, 36 percent of respondents said they had been unable to attend scheduled shifts in the past six months because of fuel costs. Nearly one in five workers reported having to stop supporting a regular client, while three-quarters said they had considered resigning because they could no longer afford the expense of getting to work.
PSA National Secretary Fleur Fitzsimons said the situation highlights a system under growing strain.
“When low-paid workers are subsidising the health system just to do their jobs because their mileage rates are far too low, the system itself is broken,” she said.
The unions argue the Government has failed to carry out a required review of travel allowances, leaving workers increasingly out of pocket as fuel and vehicle costs rise.
E tū National Secretary Rachel Mackintosh said some workers were sacrificing personal travel and family visits simply to afford the petrol needed for work.
The problem is particularly acute in rural communities, where long distances between clients can make jobs financially unsustainable.
Taumarunui home support worker Sarah Carter said newer staff members are often assigned the longest travel routes while earning the lowest wages.
“When the mileage rate doesn’t cover the cost of the fuel, it’s just impossible because we are essentially paying to do the job,” she said.
The survey also found 96 percent of workers believe travel payments fail to cover other vehicle-related expenses such as servicing, tyres, insurance, registration and maintenance.
The PSA and E tū are urging the Government to release the delayed travel rate review and introduce a mileage allowance that reflects the true cost of providing care in communities across New Zealand.
The PSA said it had previously written to Health Minister Simeon Brown about the issue and was still awaiting a response regarding the overdue 2026 travel rate review. The union argues the current mileage allowance no longer reflects the true cost of fuel and vehicle use for workers travelling between clients.
