(Rutherglen)
(SNP):...As the economy evolves to include more
service-based and tertiary industries, the challenges will change
and the nature of the risks to health will shift, but unionisation
will be as vital as ever. The trade union movement must tackle the
next big risks to workers' wellbeing inequalities, exploitative
zero-hours-type contracts and the so-called Gig economy, in which we see a shift or
regression to piecemeal working.
As we move into the Uberisation of the
workforce and as more take up the Gig economy of one-off pieces of work,
people are moving beyond the nine-to-five pattern of work.
However, the reality for most in the Gig economy is that it is just a
rebranding of short-term contracts, which means zero job security
and little right to the benefits that unionisation brings...
(Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP):..We must
look forward to the recognition of workers' rights in the
growing Gig
economy, as others have mentioned, and the potential
effects on workers' safety. Advocates of the Gig
economy claim that people benefit from the
flexible working arrangements, but it seems to me that that
flexibility is of more benefit to employers, who pay only when
work is available and do not incur staff costs when there is no
demand for their work. Because workers in
the Gig
economy are classed as independent contractors,
they do not receive the national minimum wage, sick pay, holiday
pay or protection against unfair dismissal. That situation has to
change...
(Mid Scotland and
Fife) (Con):...This year's international workers
memorial day theme is good health and safety for all workers,
whoever they are. It is very important that we consider every
part of this, every organisation, every role and every type of
job. With changes to working practices, businesses and, indeed,
our economy, it is only right and proper that we re-examine
existing worker protections to see whether they go far enough.
The Government has hired to look into how rights
can be extended in the so-called Gig economy. I welcome that move, and I
look forward to seeing what comes out of the review as it
progresses...
The Minister for Employability and Training (Jamie
Hepburn):...We would also do well to reflect on the
points that , and
made about the increase in self-employment and
the Gig
economy. Undoubtedly, many individuals desire to be
self-employed, but we know that many of the concerns of
self-employed workers are to do with issues that have been raised
in this debate. There are significant issues around self-employed
workers not receiving proper employment status: they are not
eligible for the national minimum wage, sick pay or holiday
entitlement, and it is harder for such workers to organise
themselves. We need, therefore, to ensure that workers' rights
are protected, that they are not exploited, and that that type of
employment does not displace secure jobs by creating part-time
low-paid work that offers workers little or no statutory benefits
or protections—in particular, health and safety protection in
the workplace...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
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