Scottish Parliament passes Stage One of Protection of Workers Bill

Scottish Grocers’ Federation has welcomed the Scottish Parliament’s decision to pass Stage One of the proposed Protection of Workers Bill

The vote was held yesterday (Thursday, 24th September) and will now be followed by two more legislative stages before the Bill can be made law.

The Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) urged First Minister Nicola Sturgeon prior to the vote to ensure that food and drink wholesalers and other businesses are included in financial support alongside hospitality suppliers.

Food and drink wholesalers have played a crucial part in response to Covid-19 but unlike for many other sectors, no direct targeted financial support has been made available.

Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern, who put forward the Bill said he was “delighted” with the “first hurdle in the legislative process” being passed.

He said: “It was encouraging to see all parties get behind this important issue. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank SGF, who have supported this from day one.

“With further COVID restrictions just announced for the country, we will see more pressure on our retail staff, especially with an uncertain Christmas on the horizon.

“I look forward to working with other political parties and key stakeholders to ensure it passes the remaining parliamentary stages and becomes law, in order to afford retail workers the protection they deserve under the law.”

Scottish Grocers’ Federation CEO Dr Pete Cheema OBE said: “This is a significant step forward in the right direction and it is crucial that we continue to get the message across to our politicians that abuse and threatening behaviour towards shop staff is unacceptable and that suitable additional legal protections must be put in place.

“Daniel Johnson’s Bill provides that opportunity and we will continue to work with him – as we have been doing since 2016 - to secure a step-change in Scotland’s approach to retail crime.”

SGF have strongly been in favour of Mr Johnson’s of the Bill throughout the parliamentary process and has confirmed they will continue making the case to Scottish government ministers and MSPs.