3. Statement by the Minister for Housing and Local Government: The Fair Work Commission's Report

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:22 pm on 7 May 2019.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of John Griffiths John Griffiths Labour 3:22, 7 May 2019

I'd like to welcome what I think is a very detailed and comprehensive report by the commission, Minister, and obviously it addresses issues that affect very many people right across Wales. In fact, I met with the commission as part of their evidence gathering as Chair of the Equalities, Local Government and Communities Committee, and I was very pleased with the commitment that I think they demonstrated at that meeting. There was a clear commitment to drawing up proposals that were workable and really would make a difference, which is entirely what I wanted to see. And, of course, the committee that I chair has carried out inquiries that are very relevant, particularly the inquiry on making low pay less prevalent across Wales, and also on parenting and employment, 'Work it out'. It's very pleasing, again, that many of the recommendations that we've made chime with the work and the recommendations of the commission, and we're very pleased to see that.

In particular, the commission has made recommendations identifying a voluntary living wage as the minimum wage floor for all fair work and seeking to establish guaranteed minimum hours as a default position for employment, both of which were recommendations from my equalities committee. And it's very encouraging that they say there should be no trade-off between the characteristics of fair work, highlighting the interaction between levels of pay and number and security of hours, which, I think, is really, really important and, again, something we highlighted in 'Making the economy work for people on low incomes'.

Minister, in terms of the recommendations that we've made in both those reports, the Government stated that it couldn't provide detailed responses while the Fair Work Commission was undertaking its work. Now that the report has been published, I would like to ask if the Government will now provide a more detailed response to my committee on those relevant recommendations. They were recommendations 18, 20, 21 and 22 in 'Making the economy work' and recommendations 9, 12, 28 and 34 in the parenting and employment report. Thank you.