NDM7034 Plaid Cymru debate - Worker's Rights

NDM7034 Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

To propose that the National Assembly for Wales:

1. Notes the importance of International Workers’ Day and the role of trade unions in securing the rights of workers in Wales.

2. Notes that Wales is lagging behind the rest of the UK when it comes to fair wage levels, with many people in Wales on wages 30 per cent lower than the rest of the UK population.

3. Believes that legislation should be updated to:

a) deliver ‘Fair Work’ using policy and funding levers and raising collective bargaining coverage;

b) protect workers’ rights through more effective enforcement; and

c) embed social partnership and collective bargaining into the fabric of Welsh work life.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to ban the use of zero hours contracts in all devolved Welsh public services and associated supply chains.

5. Calls on the Welsh Government to include a commitment to introducing a social partnership act and associated timetable to the current government’s legislative programme.

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 - Rebecca Evans (Gower)

Delete all after Point 1 and replace with:

Commends the record of successive Welsh Governments since 1999 in developing effective social partnership structures with trades unions and business in Wales.

Notes this approach has helped deliver tangible rights for workers in Wales through the Trade Union (Wales) Act and the Agricultural Wages Order which have overturned UK Government legislation.

Welcomes the actions developed through social partnership by the Welsh Government to eliminate exploitative zero hours contracts in Wales and the work it has done through the Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains.

Recognises the Welsh Government’s commitment to make Wales a Fair Work nation.

Notes the Welsh Government’s commitment to develop a Social Partnership Act and to introduce it in this Assembly term.

Calls on the UK Government to ensure that as we leave the EU it commits to dynamic and legally binding standards on the protection and enforcement of fair work across the UK.

Trade Union (Wales) Act

Agricultural Wages (Wales) Order

Code of Practice on Ethical Employment in Supply Chains

[If amendment 1 is agreed, amendments 2 and 3 will be de-selected] 

Amendment 2 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 4.

Amendment 3 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Delete point 5 and replace with:

Calls on the Welsh Government to consult on the development of a social partnerships act.

Amendment 4 - Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

Add as new point at end of motion:

Welcomes the UK Government's commitment to protect workers' rights post-Brexit.