Board approves minimum compensation increases for home‑care and nonprofit workers

SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Oct. 23 approved amendments to the city's Minimum Compensation Ordinance (MCO) to raise hourly pay for in‑home supportive services (IHSS) workers and employees of nonprofit contractors that hold city contracts.

The measure, approved as amended without objection, phases in wage increases for nonprofit contract workers to $16.50 an hour on July 1, 2019 (with CPI increases thereafter) and raises IHSS pay in steps that will bring IHSS workers to about $18.75 an hour by July 1, 2022. The board also directed creation of a controller‑led working group to advise on nonprofit impacts and implementation, and included language making future increases contingent on appropriation.

Why it matters: Supervisors and labor representatives said the raise targets roughly 20,000 long‑term care and safety‑net workers who provide direct care to elders, people with disabilities and other vulnerable residents. Supporters said higher pay will improve retention and quality of care; some nonprofit representatives warned of funding and sustainability risks and urged a funding commitment from the city.

Supervisor Feuer, a lead sponsor, framed the amendment as a negotiated compromise with the…