A CAMPAIGN to recruit more care workers is being undercut by low wages, say county councillors.

In October, Hampshire County Council launched its Call To Care campaign, to encourage more people to fill almost 100 temporary and full-time care vacancies on the county council and Connect2Hampshire websites.

Another 22 employees were sacked after the mandatory Covid-19 vaccination deadline last month.

But the council won’t say how many new starters have come in since the campaign began – as well as the current number of vacancies.

Executive member for public health and social care Cllr Liz Fairhurst said: “The problem is you can earn more working in a supermarket or behind a bar.”

The Liberal Democrat opposition spokesman for health and social care, Cllr David Harrison, said the ‘abysmal’ pay is the main obstacle to recruitment.

A county council spokeswoman said there were now several hundred roles available across the social care sector.