Colleges and universities to widen compliance.
Fair work policies are to be extended at colleges and
universities in Scotland as part of a larger change to the
funding arrangements for these institutions.
It will mean that higher and further education bodies will be
expected to meet additional criteria in areas such as addressing
workplace inequalities and the use of zero hours contracts, as a
condition of the grants received from the Scottish Funding
Council (SFC).
Currently colleges and universities must only meet two Fair
Work First policies in relation to payment of the real Living
Wage and recognition of workers' voice, such as trade union
recognition. The SFC has now agreed to undertake further work to
ensure that post-16 institutions aim to adopt all other Fair Work
First criteria from April 2027.
The change has been announced ahead of next week's stage 3
amendments and final vote on the passage of the Tertiary
Education and Training (TET) Bill, which proposes further reform
of the funding of post-school education and skills.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to seeing Fair Work
embedded in practice across the public sector and beyond in
Scotland. It is at the heart of our ambition to move towards a
wellbeing economy that is valued by how it benefits employees and
communities, alongside traditional economic indicators.
“Implementation of Fair Work First must be the guiding criteria
to promote fairer work practices for staff within tertiary
education, and in particular in colleges and universities.
“The SFC will now look to ensure that institutions aim to adopt
all Fair Work First criteria from April 2027, while acknowledging
the sector will be at different stages of implementation and
appropriate transition periods may be needed.”
Background
At present, colleges and universities in receipt of SFC funding
must meet the following two Fair Work First criteria: payment of
at least the real Living Wage; and provision of appropriate
channels for effective workers' voice, such as trade union
recognition. Similar to other employers in receipt of
public sector grant funding, colleges and universities are also
encouraged to adopt the following five criteria:
- investment in workforce development
- no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
- address workplace inequalities, including pay and employment
gaps for disabled people, racialised minorities, women and
workers aged over 50;
- offer flexible and family friendly working practices for all
workers from day one of employment; and
- oppose the use of fire and rehire practice.
