3. To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with trade unions to ensure that it includes workers’ voices in its policy development. (S6O-02458)

Scottish Government ministers meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress regularly, reflecting the important role that unions play as key social partners in sustaining effective democracy in society and contributing to economic competitiveness and social justice. Our strategic relationship with the STUC is underpinned by a memorandum of understanding that includes commitments to include the STUC in relevant policy development and for the First Minister to meet the STUC biannually to discuss current issues.

The STUC and affiliate trade unions have been engaged in a number of recent policy developments, including our national strategy for economic transformation, advancing fair work in adult social care, our retail strategy and our refreshed fair work action plan.

Last week, in its response in support of my bill for an employment injuries advisory council, the Fair Work Convention said that it was

“pleased to see” the principle of “effective voice” underpinning the bill, which would put the voices

“of trade unions at the heart of the Council” and the new benefit.

Does the cabinet secretary agree that workers know their workplaces best? They know the illnesses and diseases that they face at work, so will the Government listen to the Fair Work Convention, which it established, and support the bill, so that we can secure workers’ voices in the new benefit?

We will respond to Mark Griffin’s proposals in due course. In principle, we continue to work with not just the STUC but the Fair Work Convention to ensure that, as Mark Griffin points out, we have effective worker voice across all elements of society and advance that as best as possible. That is a job that I am taking forward with ministerial colleagues across Government.

The Scottish Government’s tourism and hospitality industry leadership group has a trade union representative as a full member, which has been seen by all parties as a positive development that ensures a focus on fair work in the sector. Has the Scottish Government looked at whether there is scope for trade union representation on other industry leadership groups?

Yes. Trade unions are working with the Scottish Government alongside the Fair Work Convention, which is tasked with promoting fairer workplaces and encouraging employers to engage with the fair work agenda. Unite’s membership of the tourism and hospitality ILG is important in ensuring effective voice in strategic-level discussions with industry. Trade unions are an essential and integral partner in supporting our industries to adapt and innovate for future challenges and opportunities, and they engage across a range of industry sectors. The retail ILG has trade union representatives, such as the GMB and the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers, as full members of that group, which is promoting all aspects of fair work across the retail industry, and Unite is a full member of the construction leadership forum. Trade unions are also engaged in the construction accord and will continue to play an important role.

The Labour Party was a movement grown out of trade unions, with the purpose of supporting workers’ rights. However, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has moved so far to the right that it is content to leave Scottish workers’ rights in the hands of a right-wing, draconian Westminster Government.

Will the cabinet secretary provide an update on the Scottish Government’s continued attempts to guarantee, protect and strengthen workers’ rights in Scotland, and will he join me in calling for Scottish Labour politicians who are serious about tackling employment issues to commit to devolving employment law to Holyrood immediately?

Yes. The discomfort from Labour members on the different tracks that have been taken by Scottish Labour and its Westminster leaders is quite something to behold, and that continues.

We are using the devolved levers that we have to promote fairer work across Scotland. Our commitment is demonstrated through our fair work first approach in procurement and public sector grants and our broader support for fair work practices.

We are clear in our position on the Trade Union Act 2016 and subsequent anti-trade union Westminster legislation: we vehemently oppose those measures. Most recently, we opposed the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023, which we find abhorrent, and we will continue to encourage the United Kingdom Government to guarantee, protect and strengthen workers’ rights. Unfortunately, our efforts in that regard have yielded little result.

If Labour in Scotland is serious about tackling employment issues, it should join us in calling for the devolution of employment law, short of independence, immediately.