Business, the Labour Market and Poverty - David Coyne
David Coyne, Director of Glasgow Works, talks about the relationships between businesses, the labour market and poverty. Stephen Boyd, Assistant Secretary of the Scottish Trade Unions Congress, talks about how the Scottish economy works. The Whose Economy? seminars, organised by Oxfam Scotland and the University of the West of Scotland, brought together experts to look at recent changes in the Scottish economy and their impact on Scotland's most vulnerable communities. Held over winter and spring 2010-11 in Edinburgh, Inverness, Glasgow and Stirling, the series posed the question of what economy is being created in Scotland and, specifically, for whom? To find out more and view other Whose Economy? papers, presentations and videos visit: http://www.oxfamblogs.org/ukpovertypost/whose-economy-seminar-series-winter-2010-spring-2011/
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Business, the Labour Market and Poverty - David Coyne
- 2. Business, the Labour Market and Poverty David Coyne
- 12. To view all the papers in the Whose Economy series click here To view all the videos and presentations from the seminars click here
Notas del editor
- Competitive pressures, demand fluctuations, low skill requirements and a ready labour supply encourage employers to employ temporary rather than permanent workers in an attempt to minimise labour costs. However, economic pressures do not wholly determine employment organisation: employers’ response to market and cost pressures differ, with some relying on temporary workers and others offering permanent jobs. In the public sector, restructuring to smaller budgetary units may have reduced job security, with smaller units experiencing greater demand fluctuations. Public-sector purchasing practices which strongly emphasise cost have contributed to suppliers’ use of temporary/insecure employment, with a seeming conflict between public-sector purchasing policy and anti-poverty policy. The power of dominant purchasers may exacerbate fluctuations and cost pressures on suppliers and so increase their use of insecure employment. 'Fair wage' policies, where purchasers require suppliers to pay a minimum wage higher than the National Minimum Wage, are beneficial. They can result in changes in production techniques, leading to more secure employment as well as higher wages. The authors conclude that: some employers could offer greater job security without jeopardising their business; however, with little reason to expect employers relying on temporary workers to offer permanent jobs of their own volition, the state, trade unions and consumers would need to take action to prompt change; public-sector job insecurity could be tackled by national and local policy, with good practice examples demonstrating how reliance on temporary jobs can be reduced; fair competition policy could help address the power of dominant purchasers; the legality of the 'fair wage' approach for all public-sector purchasing needs clarification.
- Carers: Approx. 660,000 in Scotland 3 out of 5 people will have caring responsibilities sometimes in their lives 1 in 8 employees are likely to be juggling work and caring 6/10 people have to give up work because of caring responsibilities 72% are financially worse as a result of caring responsibilities (see p2 of the attached) People affected by cancer: 90,000 people of working age diagnosed with cancer each year City of Glasgow has the highest age standardised incidence rate of Cancer in Scotland Approx 770,000 people of working age living with a cancer diagnosis Around 40% do not go back to work after treatment despite most wanting to remain in or return to work after treatment The relationship with the employer was a major factor in helping people return to work with ongoing contact during sick leave cited as valuable Becoming more of an issue as more and more people survive treatment