The challenges posed by the exit from the European Union, the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the persistent strain of the cost-of-living crisis are imposing substantial pressures on employers in Scotland. This situation has the potential to exacerbate existing structural inequalities within the labour market, including in-work poverty.

Against this backdrop, the Scottish government has implemented a series of measures to ensure that fair work remains a central tenet in any information exchange or negotiation between workers and employers. These measures encompass the promotion of social dialogue—underscored by conditionality—collaboration with employers and trade unions in sectors with high instances of precarious work, augmentation of secure pay through living wages, and the imposition of conditions on public grants and contracts.

Scotland's efforts to promote fair work have already delivered results. For instance, the number of employers accredited as real living wage employers —companies who commit to specific notice periods and minimum working hours— has surged significantly, escalating from 14 in 2014 to over 3,200 in 2023.