The Service and Food Workers Union says an Employment Court ruling is a major break-through for 35,000 home care relief workers.

The court has ruled the Ministry of Health and Capital and Coast District Health Board breached the law by underpaying a Kapiti home care relief worker.

Jan Lowe was receiving a subsidy of three-dollars-an-hour, rather than the $14.25 an hour minimum wage and minimum holiday entitlements.

Union National Secretary John Ryall says they've been fighting for this for more than two years.

"We think this is a major breakthrough for 35,000 care relief workers, that they've finally had their work appreciated."

John Ryall says it's a historical decision and pays tribute to the work done by these workers.