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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Call for living wage change to Procurement Reform Bill | Call for living wage change to Procurement Reform Bill |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A fresh attempt to make payment of the living wage a condition of all public sector contracts will be made later. | A fresh attempt to make payment of the living wage a condition of all public sector contracts will be made later. |
| Scottish Labour has proposed last minute amendments to the Procurement Reform Bill being debated at Holyrood. | Scottish Labour has proposed last minute amendments to the Procurement Reform Bill being debated at Holyrood. |
| The legislation, expected to be passed by MSPs, aims to improve the way the public sector buys goods and services. | |
| But ministers have said European Commission advice prevents them from making the living wage a requirement of public sector contracts. | But ministers have said European Commission advice prevents them from making the living wage a requirement of public sector contracts. |
| The Scottish government has proposed its own late changes to the bill. | The Scottish government has proposed its own late changes to the bill. |
| It wants companies bidding for public contracts to have their "willingness and ability to pay the living wage assessed" in the process. | It wants companies bidding for public contracts to have their "willingness and ability to pay the living wage assessed" in the process. |
| Greater flexibility | Greater flexibility |
| However, Labour wants ministers to go further and make the living wage a condition of contract. The party said it believed this can be achieved within European law. | However, Labour wants ministers to go further and make the living wage a condition of contract. The party said it believed this can be achieved within European law. |
| But Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the EU's internal market commissioner, Michel Barnier, has advised that this is "unlikely" to be possible. | But Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the EU's internal market commissioner, Michel Barnier, has advised that this is "unlikely" to be possible. |
| She said this was "disappointing" and that ministers would continue to press the Commission for greater flexibility. | She said this was "disappointing" and that ministers would continue to press the Commission for greater flexibility. |
| A commission source said Mr Barnier had offered "further discussion" on the subject and that Scottish government officials had already met with commission experts on 8 May. | A commission source said Mr Barnier had offered "further discussion" on the subject and that Scottish government officials had already met with commission experts on 8 May. |
| The living wage - which is currently £7.65 an hour - is already guaranteed to many public sector workers in Scotland. | The living wage - which is currently £7.65 an hour - is already guaranteed to many public sector workers in Scotland. |
| The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said it was backing a number of "11th hour" amendments to the Procurement Reform Bill. | The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) said it was backing a number of "11th hour" amendments to the Procurement Reform Bill. |
| General secretary, Grahame Smith, said: "The STUC continues to support the amendments proposed by MSPs of various parties, including the living wage amendment tabled by James Kelly MSP, because we continue to dispute the Scottish government's interpretation of the limitations imposed by EU law. | General secretary, Grahame Smith, said: "The STUC continues to support the amendments proposed by MSPs of various parties, including the living wage amendment tabled by James Kelly MSP, because we continue to dispute the Scottish government's interpretation of the limitations imposed by EU law. |
| "However, it is our understanding that the Scottish government intends to publish robust guidance on the implementation of the living wage through public contracts; to involve key stakeholders such as trade unions in the production of the guidance; and to ensure that the guidance is followed through appropriate institutional mechanisms. | "However, it is our understanding that the Scottish government intends to publish robust guidance on the implementation of the living wage through public contracts; to involve key stakeholders such as trade unions in the production of the guidance; and to ensure that the guidance is followed through appropriate institutional mechanisms. |
| "This would certainly go some way towards increasing the incidence of living wage contracts in the future." | "This would certainly go some way towards increasing the incidence of living wage contracts in the future." |