Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:03 pm on 9 November 2022.
Unfortunately for you all, I'm not Luke Fletcher, as described by Delyth, but I do want to explore the economic contract. Through the economic contract, businesses must demonstrate current action in areas such as economic strength and adaptability, fair work, the promotion of well-being and becoming low carbon and climate resilient. Ideally, the economic contract would help see a Wales where organisations are resilient and adapt to changing economic and market conditions, and where they are ready to grow sustainably. Furthermore, we should see that workers are fairly rewarded, heard and represented, secure and able to progress in a healthy, inclusive environment where rights are respected. In this regard, a safe working environment where legal rights are protected would be essential to deliver the goals of the economic contract.
The agreement also rests upon the commitment that businesses must take proactive action to ensure a healthier workforce where physical and mental well-being is maximised, while creating cohesive communities that are attractive, viable, safe and well connected. Furthermore, it requires businesses to promote and protect our vibrant culture, heritage and Welsh language. But, as we've heard, Wales imports agricultural and forest commodities from many countries around the world, many of which cause social risks. We've distanced ourselves from the production process, so we don't always see the impact on businesses that our procurement policies are having. Commodity supply chains supplying Wales in these countries risk child or forced labour, modern slavery and the destruction of vital ecosystems. For this, we ought to hang our heads in shame. How can we claim to want to maximise mental and physical well-being while we drive exploitative labour practices? In what sense are rights respected when children are forced to work so we can have our morning coffee? Are we promoting cohesive communities that are attractive, viable, safe and well connected while we are complicit in destroying acres and acres and acres of forests? The Welsh Government must play its part in ensuring that businesses review their procurement policy and ensure that it includes fair and ethical practices. They should see that organisations review and develop their food policies and procurement contracts to increase product range to include fair, ethical and sustainable fruit juice, snacks and other food, where possible, and include palm-oil-free or sustainable-palm-oil food contracts to ensure that natural habitats are being maintained, as highlighted by Fair Trade Wales.
So, to conclude, the Government need to strengthen the economic contract to require signatories to commit to supply chains that are free from deforestation, conversion and social exploitation. It would be hypocritical of the Government to seek to guarantee fair working practices and sustainable business growth at home while actively contributing to slavery, horrendous working environments and environmental degradation abroad. Diolch yn fawr.