CHILD CARE WORKERS RECIEVE GOVERNMENT WAGE ENHANCEMENT GRANT

Saskatchewan Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen today

announced that child care workers in licensed non-profit child care

centres across Saskatchewan will receive wage increases which will

help retain and recruit qualified child care workers to care for

Saskatchewan children.



"This wage enhancement recognizes the importance of quality child care

and the valuable work of caring for children," Van Mulligen said.

"For the fourth consecutive year, our government is providing a grant

to enhance the wages of child care workers to help address the

disparity between early childhood educators and other occupations with

the same qualifications."



Social Services has provided a grant of $500,000 to more than 130

centres across Saskatchewan to bolster workers' wages. Since 1996,

Saskatchewan has allocated $2 million to supplement the wages of child

care workers in this province.



The government's commitment to improving the wages of child care

workers is part of Saskatchewan's Action Plan for Children, a long

term government strategy through which community and government

programs for children and families are initiated, developed and

expanded.



Child Care Week in Saskatchewan is May 16-22 and Caregiver

Appreciation Day is May 18th.

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For more information, contact:



Kimberly Wihnan

Social Services

Regina, SK

Phone: 306-787-8689