Waging politics
Procurement contracts by some of the biggest councils in England, including London, already stipulate that suppliers must pay the living wage.
While the Scottish Government hides behind unseen legal advice from some other part of the EU, thousands of people across Scotland are denied a decent income, unable to work their way out of poverty.
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Hide AdAt Stage 2 of the bill the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) supported a range of amendments aimed at strengthening community benefit and sustainability issues, and strongly supported the amendment calling for the introduction of a living wage – none of which were accepted by the government.
This may suit politically, but playing politics with people’s livelihoods is hardly the sign of a caring government.
If the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, can do it, why can’t we in Scotland?
John Downie
SCVO
Mansfield Place
Edinburgh