4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact in Scotland to reports that the United Kingdom Government is considering a post-Brexit removal of workers’ rights. (S6O-01359)

The Scottish Government is firmly opposed to any weakening of worker protections. Removing important European Union protections could lead to a reduction of workers’ health, safety and wellbeing outcomes.

In the Queen’s speech this year, the United Kingdom Government took the decision not to introduce an employment bill. Does the minister agree that, given the Westminster Tory Government’s poor track record when it comes to protecting workers’ rights, coupled with the emergence of a Liz Truss Government that is intent on stripping away protections and power from unions while undermining workers, it is becoming ever more evident that the only way we can safeguard workers’ rights and tackle in-work poverty in Scotland is by ensuring that full employment powers rest with the Scottish Government?

I agree with the member’s points. I was very concerned when UK civil servants, having being asked by their political masters to look at how to use Brexit freedoms, recently confirmed that they were looking at EU regulations on issues such as working time, parental leave, the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations

, agency workers and part-time workers. Given the tone that Colin Beattie refers to from the new Tory Prime Minister, Liz Truss, we should indeed be very worried. I agree that the reports that the member mentions are further evidence that workers in Scotland will get the employment protections that they need only when the levers of change are placed in the hands of the Scottish people and the Governments that they vote for.