Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 November 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the work being taken to promote fair work principles in Scotland.
In the absence of powers over employment law, the Scottish Government is committed to using the levers we do have to embed Fair Work across the Scottish labour market.
The UK Government’s Employment Rights Bill is a vindication of our Fair Work approach. We welcome the Bill and the statutory footing it will provide to some of the progress we have made in Scotland–including on zero hours contracts, fire and rehire practices, and flexible working.
To help ensure public money supports fairer work places, since July 2023, public sector grant recipients have been required to pay at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective worker voice. It is estimated that over £6 billion worth of public sector grants has been awarded with Fair Work First criteria attached between 1 July 2023 and 31 March 2025.
We also provide funding for Living Wage Scotland to encourage employers to become accredited Real Living Wage and Living Hours employers. Scotland remains the best performing of all four UK countries, with the highest proportion of employees (18+) paid the Real Living Wage or more.
In April we launched a Fair Work digital resource hub which provides guidance for employers, and in June we worked with partners to hold a week-long Fair Work Festival.
Further actions we are taking are set out in the Fair Work Action Plan Impact Report published on 25 September 2025.