2. What discussions has the Welsh Government held with the UK Government about workers' rights since the end of the transition period? OQ56180

We have consistently said to the UK Government, through the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) and in bilateral discussions, that the UK must commit to non-regression from existing standards and employment rights. The UK must stick to the obligations it has entered into in the EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement. 

Thank you, Minister, and can I welcome the First Minister's robust defence of workers' rights in response to questions in the Senedd yesterday, because news that the UK Tory Government is again planning to attack workers' rights should shock no-one? We know our history, and we know the price that was paid to secure and improve the rights of workers, and it should make people angry, and I hope make them organise in resistance through their trade unions. 

Minister, there are less than 100 days to the Senedd elections and we can now clearly see that workers' rights are on the ballot paper. So, to avoid any more broken Tory promises, promises that are now as smelly as the rotting fish in our sea ports, can I ask you to assure me that the Welsh Government, and the party that we represent here in this Senedd, will challenge any attempt by the Tories to sacrifice workers' rights on the altar of their free market dogma?

I thank Dawn Bowden for that supplementary, and for her longstanding advocacy of the cause of trade union membership as well. Workers across Wales and the UK will be utterly dismayed, I think, that, at the height of a pandemic and economic crises, the UK Government think that it's remotely appropriate to consider taking an axe to basic protections on working time and holiday pay entitlements. We want work to be fairer, safer and more secure, and we will absolutely resist the Conservative and the Brexiteer fantasy that our future lies in a deregulated and exploitative workplace. The UK Government says it's committed to maintaining existing protections, and, if that is true, then why is it undertaking a review? I agree with Dawn Bowden—faced with a UK Government that seems determined to strip away their rights at work, it's more important than ever that workers should join a trade union, and we will use every lever to mitigate the damaging impact of any UK Government attempt to dilute workers' rights and protections. Whether that's the power of the public purse or our social partnership approach, we are absolutely committed, as a Welsh Labour-led Government, to justice in the workplace and to fair work practices.