Petition · PE01467 · Session 4
Scottish Living Wage Recognition Scheme
Signatures
0
Comments
6
Considered
5 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to set up a recognition scheme to recognise employers that pay a Scottish Living Wage.
What the petitioner did first
This petition emerged as part of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP)’s Youth Manifesto consultation in 2011. The manifesto, ‘Change the Picture’ (http://www.syp.org.uk/our-manifesto-W21page-82-/) was shaped by 42,804 responses from young people, the largest youth consultation of its type in Scotland. 76% of respondents agreed with the statement “To tackle in-work poverty, the Scottish Government should set up a recognition scheme for employers that pay a Scottish Living Wage of at least £7 per hour to all employees, which is regularly reviewed to make sure it is meeting minimum income standards”, with just 10% disagreeing. Based on this strong support, the statement is included in the manifesto, which shapes the basis of the SYP’s policy and campaigning work for the 2011-16 Parliamentary term.
[N.B. The figure of £7 per hour was consistent with the Living Wage at the time the consultation was conducted and was included for illustrative purposes. The SYP supports the Living Wage, as calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy (http://www.crsp.ac.uk/projects/living_wage.htm)]
The decision to campaign for the Living Wage as a national priority was taken following a vote of SYP’s full membership at our AGM in June 2012. Our campaign, ‘One Fair Wage’ was launched in September 2012. Whilst our ultimate aspiration is a Scotland where everyone, no matter how old they are, earns a Scottish Living Wage that’s based on how much it costs to live, we recognise that minimum wage legislation is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and is not on the political agenda in the short term. Our aims for the short and medium term build on the already strong support from MSPs and Councils to move to persuade businesses to become Living Wage employers, and to campaign for a Scottish Government recognition scheme for Living Wage employers.
Since the launch of One Fair Wage, our MSYPs have secured pledges of support from over 50 Councillors; 25 MSPs and MPs including all Scottish Green Party elected officials; Save the Children and UNISON; and local businesses such as Govan Law Centre and Money Matters Advice Centre. With several other meetings planned in the near future we are confident our list of supporters will continue to grow, and businesses will be persuaded to become Living Wage employers. In addition, since the launch of the campaign, several local authorities have committed to becoming Living Wage employers, and following COSLA’s recent proposal to increase the basic rate of pay for local government staff (http://www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2012/11/scottish-councils-end-pay-freeze), it is looking increasing likely that by the start of the 2013-14 financial year, all public sector employees in Scotland will be paid at least a fair, equal Living Wage.
SYP submitted organisational responses to the Scottish Government’s Procurement Reform Bill consultation (http://www.syp.org.uk/img/consultations/Procurement%20Reform%20Bill_SYP%20Response.pdf) and John Park MSP’s Living Wage (Scotland) Bill consultation (http://www.syp.org.uk/img/consultations/Living%20Wage%20Bill_SYP%20Response.pdf) recommending in both that the Scottish Government establish a Scottish Living Wage recognition scheme as part of efforts to increase the number of employers paying a Living Wage.
The Scottish Youth Parliament is submitting this petition as the next stage in our One Fair Wage campaign.
[N.B. The figure of £7 per hour was consistent with the Living Wage at the time the consultation was conducted and was included for illustrative purposes. The SYP supports the Living Wage, as calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy (http://www.crsp.ac.uk/projects/living_wage.htm)]
The decision to campaign for the Living Wage as a national priority was taken following a vote of SYP’s full membership at our AGM in June 2012. Our campaign, ‘One Fair Wage’ was launched in September 2012. Whilst our ultimate aspiration is a Scotland where everyone, no matter how old they are, earns a Scottish Living Wage that’s based on how much it costs to live, we recognise that minimum wage legislation is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament and is not on the political agenda in the short term. Our aims for the short and medium term build on the already strong support from MSPs and Councils to move to persuade businesses to become Living Wage employers, and to campaign for a Scottish Government recognition scheme for Living Wage employers.
Since the launch of One Fair Wage, our MSYPs have secured pledges of support from over 50 Councillors; 25 MSPs and MPs including all Scottish Green Party elected officials; Save the Children and UNISON; and local businesses such as Govan Law Centre and Money Matters Advice Centre. With several other meetings planned in the near future we are confident our list of supporters will continue to grow, and businesses will be persuaded to become Living Wage employers. In addition, since the launch of the campaign, several local authorities have committed to becoming Living Wage employers, and following COSLA’s recent proposal to increase the basic rate of pay for local government staff (http://www.cosla.gov.uk/news/2012/11/scottish-councils-end-pay-freeze), it is looking increasing likely that by the start of the 2013-14 financial year, all public sector employees in Scotland will be paid at least a fair, equal Living Wage.
SYP submitted organisational responses to the Scottish Government’s Procurement Reform Bill consultation (http://www.syp.org.uk/img/consultations/Procurement%20Reform%20Bill_SYP%20Response.pdf) and John Park MSP’s Living Wage (Scotland) Bill consultation (http://www.syp.org.uk/img/consultations/Living%20Wage%20Bill_SYP%20Response.pdf) recommending in both that the Scottish Government establish a Scottish Living Wage recognition scheme as part of efforts to increase the number of employers paying a Living Wage.
The Scottish Youth Parliament is submitting this petition as the next stage in our One Fair Wage campaign.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
1 Mar 20131 mention
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14 May 20131 mention
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3 Sep 20131 mention
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12 Nov 20131 mention
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28 Jan 20141 mention
Signatures by country
191 online signaturesComments
6 comments, oldest first-
Tina 1 Feb 2013Whole heartedly agree with this petition and what you are trying to accomplish.
I have no doubt that it will be a success. -
Brian McGuire 1 Feb 2013Good luck with this!!
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Veronica 4 Feb 2013This is very long overdue
- there is a massive disparity between the top 20% of earners and the rest of the working population. Its a disgrace that in this era we have classification of the 'working poor'. I would hope this petition would also cover the so-called apprenticeship banner
- the loophole where employers pay outrageously low rates per hour and get away with it. -
James Macfarlane 8 Feb 2013There already is a scheme, run by the Living Wage Foundation. The SYP is essentially calling for needless duplication.
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Deborah Jean Chambers 13 Feb 2013This would allow people to live with dignity and not depend on handouts from the government. People who work should be rewarded accordingly, we all count together
- let's unite as a country and make our children proud. -
Andrew John Younger 14 Feb 2013Support this in principle and would ask for Scottish Parliament to initiate a design of a charter mark on par to BSI or ISO institute allow recognized employers to attach an official charter mark to letter heading, publicity, etc.
Verification of any scheme could be from existing organisation, trade guild, local authority, from all government departments that tender for services.