CITIZENS ADVICE SCOTLAND FAIR EMPLOYMENT REPORT

That this House welcomes the Fair Employment report from Citizens Advice Scotland, showing the effects of the recession on employment practices in Scotland; notes with concern the report's findings that many employers are failing to pay due wages, holiday, sickness and redundancy pay and are increasingly changing terms and conditions without consultation; further notes that citizen advice bureaux clients are often low paid, relatively low skilled, invariably unaware of their employment rights and vulnerable to poor and illegal employment practices; commends citizen advice bureaux across Scotland for supporting workers facing unfair employment practices at a time of reduced funding for bureaux; believes that a fair employment commission with the legal powers and resources to secure all workers their rights and prevent rogue employers from exploiting workers should be established; and urges the Government to establish such a commission and to work with business groups and trade unions to promote good employment practice.