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Scottish Government engagement in protection of shopworkers welcomed by Usdaw - the union calls for legislation

Date: 07 May 2020 Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has welcomed comments made by Ash Denham MSP, Minister for Community Safety about engaging with the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill. The union calls on the Scottish Government to support the Bill progressing to Stage 2 of the parliamentary process and help it to become law.
Promoted by Daniel Johnson MSP (Labour, Edinburgh), the new law would protect retail workers from threats and abuse and is currently being scrutinised by the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee at Stage 1 in the legislative process. At yesterday’s meeting of the Committee the Community Safety Minister indicated she understood the purpose of the bill and has sympathy for measures to protect workers who are enforcing the law on age-restricted sales, but wanted to look closer at the details of the Bill.
 
In particular she signalled willingness to engage with the proposal to create a statutory aggravation for those abusing and assaulting workers as a result of asking for proof of age as required by law. The minister also agreed that in future, greater consideration should be given to providing measures to ensure compliance and protection of retail workers when introducing new restrictions and requirements on retail sales.

Daniel Johnson MSP has welcomed the comments, tweeting from @DJohnsonMSP: “I am encouraged by constructive evidence from @ashtenRD on my bill to protect retail workers today. I am happy to engage on the aggravation point which could strengthen Challenge 25 and agree with the point that we need to tackle culture - it is never OK to abuse shop workers.”
 
Stewart Forrest – Usdaw’s Scottish Divisional Officer said: “Throughout the Coronavirus outbreak, and the panic buying which has surrounded it, shopworkers have been on the frontline, ensuring that Scotland remains fed. It is clear that shopworkers are at an increased risk of developing an infection yet they have continued to go to work and help respond to the crisis sweeping the nation.
 
“Despite this key role, we have seen abuse, threats and violence against shop staff double. The crisis highlights that, in our view, the current legal provisions are not sufficient. So while Usdaw welcomes the Minister’s comments today and a willingness to engage with Daniel Johnson, we are calling on the Scottish Government to help change the law to better protect shopworkers”.
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.

Scottish Parliament TV - Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee, 6 May: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/economy-energy-and-fair-work-committee-may-6-2020
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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