Question reference: S5W-35972
- Asked by: Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 18 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what monitoring it undertakes to determine the outcome of asking employers to adopt the Fair Work First criteria in relation to grants, funding and procurement.
Answer
Fair Work First milestones are agreed as part of the grant application and will be monitored as part of standard grant monitoring processes.
In Scottish Government contracts Fair Work First is applied and monitored, on a case-by-case basis taking into account what is relevant and proportionate to the contract. This would be a regular agenda item at contract and supplier management meetings. Published annual procurement reports also report on fair work elements in Scottish Government contracts.
Public bodies are responsible for making their own decisions in line with procurement regulations, based on local governance arrangements.
Fair Work First aims to reward and encourage employers to adopt fair work practices, rather than attach blunt conditions and subsequently penalise employers who cannot meet them. We have published guidance to support the adoption of Fair Work First by employers and those administering public sector funding.