MINISTERS must act now to end the scandal of term-time only pay for school support staff in Wales, Unison urged today as the Senedd debated proposals to create a new negotiating body.

Among the proposals is a legislative change to establish a statutory school support staff negotiating body, with year-round pay as a first priority.

Unison has called on the Plaid Cymru government to commit to ending term-time only pay, which the union says is creating in-work poverty among some of the lowest-paid workers in public services.

The union’s mapping of the 2024-25 Welsh school workforce found 90.8 per cent of school support staff were women and 43.3 per cent were working part-time, with more than half in single-income households.

Unison Cymru regional secretary Jess Turner said: “Teaching assistants, midday supervisors, technicians and cleaners keep schools running.

“Yet too many are trapped in poverty pay and on precarious contracts.

“The scandal of term-time only pay affects tens of thousands of mainly women workers across Wales.

“Ministers must bring forward legislation in the first year of this Senedd to ensure all staff are paid for the full year.”

Welsh Labour has also called on the Plaid Cymru government to commit to ending the practice, saying the new body would result in better pay, working conditions and opportunities.

Welsh Labour’s children and education spokeswoman Lynne Neagle said: “School support staff are the backbone of our education system.

“Yet many of them are among the lowest-paid workers in public service, creating huge issues around inequality and in-work poverty.

“Welsh Labour have set out a plan to end this problem, with a negotiating body that will deliver support staff the pay and respect they deserve.”