SRC Response to Scottish Government Backing for Shopworker Protection Bill

Today, Friday 18th of September, the Scottish Government has written to the Justice Committee to indicate it will support the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Restricted) (Scotland) Bill, subject to amendments to the legislation, at Stage One next week.

Commenting on the announcement, Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Scottish Retail Consortium Head of Policy, said:

“Retailers have been unequivocal action is needed to combat the relentless and disgraceful rise in violence and abuse towards shop workers.  This growing problem is often triggered by shop workers delivering what government increasingly asks of them: enforcing an expanding range of age-restriction policies, refusing to serve intoxicated customers, or dealing with shop thieves. Our most recent Crime Survey found a worrying increase in severe violent incidents against staff despite record spending on crime prevention by retailers – with ten Scottish workers a day being abused.

“The case that retail workers need better protections has been confirmed during the pandemic. Retail workers have taken on new legal duties to protect themselves and customers. However, that has increased the pressure on those workers who are now legally responsible for enforcing legislation on customers, creating further conflict and flashpoints which have led to workers being abused and attacked.

“We therefore welcome the news that Scottish Government is backing this long overdue Bill which will help better protect shopworkers from violence and abuse. The Bill is an opportunity for the Scottish Parliament to lead the way in in the UK in supporting hard-working retail staff – and we hope all parties will support the thrust of the legislation.”

Ends

The Scottish Retail Consortium submitted written evidence earlier this year on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill which can be read here:  https://www.parliament.scot/S5_EconomyJobsFairWork/Inquiries/EEFW-S5-20-PoW-04-SRC.pdf