Standing up for workers
When people go to work they have the right to expect that they will be allowed to work in a safe environment free from fear of intimidation or abuse.
However statistics show that over the last three years incidences of violence and abuse against shop workers in Scotland has rocketed by 78%.
I am therefore delighted that a Bill to give workers in Scotland greater protection has gained enough support from MSPs to progress to the next stage of the legislative process.
As well as support from MSPs, the Workers (Aggravated Offences) Bill has also gathered significant support from Trade Unions, transport bodies, local councils and individual workers.
The Bill will give workers who have face to face contact with the public through their duties greater protection. This would mean people committing offences under the new Bill could be jailed up to 12 months and fined up to £10,000.
A particular group who have contacted me in the past with concerns about safety at work are bus drivers who can feel particularly vulnerable given the isolation from colleagues and I am pleased that they will be covered by the proposals.
I recently met with representatives of UNITE to discuss bus industry issues and I am delighted that they are fully behind the objectives of the Bill.
In addition to the Bill I have added my support to the Freedom from Fear campaign organised by USDAW.
Whether it is verbal or physical abuse, the campaign aims to send out a clear message that this behaviour is totally unacceptable.
For more information on the campaign click here