Meeting of the Parliament 12 March 2019
As the member knows, there are more disabled people working now than there were before. When we have such conversations, the same questions come from Labour members every time, and the same answers are given.
We can certainly monitor effectively the considerable increase in employment levels here in Scotland and across the UK to unprecedented and historic highs. By necessity, fair work must start with work. Access to employment should underpin the Scottish Government’s commitment to building a fair work nation if it is to be successful. With that in mind, skills and employability are key, as are specific schemes such as fair start Scotland. Monitoring the effectiveness and impact of such schemes is no less important.
Another welcome feature of our labour market has been the increase in pay in the past year, which is firmly ahead of inflation. After disappointing growth following the 2008 financial crash, there are now good signs that we are re-entering positive real-terms growth on a consistent basis. At the lower end of the pay spectrum, the national living wage has been significant. The Institute for Fiscal Studies recognised in its report last year that hourly wage growth had been 10 per cent for the lowest-paid workers, in comparison with lower growth at the median.
However, at its core, the basis for sustainable growth in earnings must be an increase in productivity. The action plan notes that fair work can play a role in that. The Fraser of Allander institute’s conclusions in 2016 on fair work and productivity cover much of that territory.
Equally, such measures must be coupled with actions to encourage business growth, entrepreneurship and innovation. How the fair work agenda translates to small and medium-sized enterprises will be important.