5. Statement by the Deputy Minister and Chief Whip: An Update on Advancing Equality and Human Rights in Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:01 pm on 11 June 2019.

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Photo of Jane Hutt Jane Hutt Labour 6:01, 11 June 2019

I think, Suzy Davies, you raise a key point. In terms of delivering on strengthening equality and human rights, it has to be a cross-Government responsibility. I think it's very relevant if we look at the Fair Work Commission's report, in terms of understanding how we can address this. I mentioned in my statement that, actually, in terms of commencing the socioeconomic duty—which I believe will have a profound impact on socioeconomic disadvantages affecting all the protected characteristics and disadvantaged communities—it's a fair and living wage, improvements in procurement that are crucial, and that's going to be the first phase of our work in terms of strengthening and advancing equality and human rights.

This is about tackling poverty, but also it's building on the work, which also is the finance Minister's responsibility as well as the economy and infrastructure Minister in terms of the ethical code on procurement and supply chains, and our economic contract promotes fair work and inclusive growth. It is crucial, in terms of economic development, that we look at the quality of jobs, that we look at issues in terms of low pay, low skill and insecure jobs. And I have also mentioned, of course, the pay gap—not just in terms of the gender pay gap, but disability and race pay gaps, and the intersectionality that obviously has an impact, in terms of addressing equality and human rights. And this, of course, is something where we have to work with the UK Government, in terms of the powers that we have and the powers that take us forward in terms of employment legislation and, indeed, protecting, of course, progressive EU employment law in the way that I've described.