McKay, Sonia and Moore, Sian (2023) Devolution and employment standards. Industrial Law Journal. ISSN 0305-9332 (Print), 1464-3669 (Online) (doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/indlaw/dwad017)

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Abstract

A recent research report published by the University of Greenwich explores the extent to which administrations in Scotland, Wales, and England have been able to use powers devolved to them from the Westminster government to better employment standards. The research reveals that there is no single model delivering improvements in regional employment standards. Conducting six case studies, in four different regions of England, together with one in Scotland and one in Wales, it found that strategies adopted, and outcomes obtained, were a reflection of local labour market legacies, the nature and embeddedness of trade unions, the political will of the local administration and the resources that had been devolved to them. The research found that authorities have promoted fair or decent work firstly through local Charters and secondly through the procurement of local services. These strategies are suggestive of what can be achieved with trade union engagement and influence, but also of limitations that reflect the restrictions on the powers that the authorities have with regard to employment (save in the devolved settlement for Northern Ireland). Local powers are essentially voluntary and, in any case, there is caution about enforcing compliance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	devolution; employment standards; decent work; trade unions
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Business
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2023 12:33
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/43010

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