Action plea to protect staff hit by closures
MSPs have called for ac t ion t o prevent unscrupulous bosses treating staff unfairly during lockdown. The Scottish Government’s minister in charge of employment practices was told of some big firms using lockdown to lower conditions and some sacking staff to then re- employ them on reduced terms.
The MSPs focused on the hospitality sector, which has been hit hard with closures from March to July and some restrictions re- imposed last month.
Rona Mackay, SNP MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, said: “Many workers in the hospitality trade have been treated very unfairly during the pandemic.
“Some high- profile venues have disregarded their rights, often by denying them furlough and eroding their terms and conditions.”
She added: “There must be an increased focus, now and post- Covid, on the treatment of workers, particularly those in the hospitality trade.”
Another MSP, Ruth McGuire an Ayrshire SNP MSP, said it is vital that steps continue to be taken to deal with unfair working practices and unscrupulous employers.
She said: “Concerns have been raised throughout the pandemic about unfair fire- and- rehire policies. Does the minister share my revulsion at that practice, and does he agree that steps should be taken to stop it?”
Jamie Hepburn, Minister for Business, Fair Work and Skills, said: “I am acutely aware of the need for us to embed fair work practices in the hospitality sector and across the whole economy.
“Although I do not know the specifics of the examples to which Rona Mackay referred, I would be happy to receive the details if she wanted to provide them.
“Such things are happening, which is very concerning, and we must collectively commit to addressing those issues.”
Last week, the Glasgow Times reported how a Glasgow waitress was bidding to end the practice used in hospitality of unpaid trail shifts.
Ellen Reynolds, a Glasgow University student, worked for five hours in a Bearsden restaurant and even had to pay for clothing specified by the management.
Her petition has almost 7000 signatures and needs another 3000 to get a response from the UK Government.