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The time for action on industrial injuries is now

The Scottish Parliament are set to debate Mark Griffin MSP’s Employment Injuries Advisory Council (SEIAC) Bill on Thursday 18th April. The debate comes as Scotland’s trade unionists are set to demand (2) the Scottish Government back the Bill the Scottish TUC annual Congress in Dundee next week. 

The Bill aims to set up a new council of experts to help design and deliver the new employment injury benefit. Under the plans, this council would be tasked with advising the Scottish Government on which occupations and conditions the new injury benefit should cover. 

In a statement (1), the STUC has expressed ‘deep disappointment’ in the Scottish Government’s failure to support the Bill, ‘disrespecting’ the voices of those who need it most. 

Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said: 
 
“The Scottish Government has a unique opportunity to build a welfare system fit for the 21st century with the voices of workers at its heart. 

“They must not let them down. By rejecting Mark Griffin’s Bill, they would be sending out the message that workers injured at their work and now in need of assistance from the state can be discarded or ignored. 

“We cannot allow that to come to pass. The chance is there for government to work in partnership with our movement on this. We all want to get it right for Scotland’s workers. 

"We stand ready to make this Bill a reality if the Government pledges to work in good faith with unions. We must provide justice and compassion to injured workers in their hour of need and the Scottish Government can play their part. We would implore them to do so.” 

Mark Griffin MSP added: 
“The devolution of employment injury benefits is a chance to deliver a system that is truly fit for purpose and trade unionists are right to demand that they are no longer ignored. I welcome their support. 

“Workers, including teachers and health professionals suffering from long covid, ex-footballers facing dementia, and firefighters battling cancers, demand inclusion in designing a fair and respectful injury benefit. 

“The Scottish Government must listen to the calls of the STUC, ensuring a revamped injury benefit meets the needs of 21st century workers. The clock is ticking, and the voices of workers must be heard.” 

ENDS 

STUC Statement in advance of the Stage 1 Debate 
 
Once again, we stand in solidarity with workers across Scotland, as we express our deep disappointment at the Scottish Government's failure to support Mark Griffin MSP’s proposed Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill. This bill, endorsed by our movement, represents a beacon of hope for injured workers seeking justice and support. 

Led by our STUC Disabled Workers’ Committee and our affiliates, this Bill shows the critical importance of delivering a fairer, more transparent and just welfare system. 

It is the workers across Scotland who know the harms associated with our workplaces. This Bill represented their voices. We need an injury benefit fit for the 21st century, with workers voices at the heart. The voices of those on the front lines, grappling with workplace hazards and the repercussions of work-related injuries, must be heard. 

In failing to back this Bill, the Scottish Government disrespects those voices. These are workers in our emergency services, social care, National Health Service and more who need support. Their pleas have fallen on deaf ears. 

The Scottish Government still has an opportunity to rectify this injustice and give sick and disabled workers the platform they deserve in shaping the future of Scotland’s injury benefit system. 
 
We implore the Scottish Government to reconsider its stance and throw its support behind the Bill. The time for action is now, and failure to act is simply unacceptable. Workers' lives hang in the balance and it is imperative that the government stands on the side of justice and compassion. 

2. STUC Motion on Scottish Employment Industrial Injures Bill, from the STUC  Disabled Workers’ Committee 
 
“Congress notes that certain social security powers, including industrial injuries benefits, were devolved from the UK Government to the Scottish Government through the Scotland Act 2016; and that the delivery of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is expected to become the full responsibility of the Scottish Government by March 2026.

“Congress further notes the Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council (SEIAC) Bill was introduced by Mark Griffin MSP on 8 June 2023 and subsequently scrutinised by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee. 

“Congress agrees that the current UK system of employment injuries assistance (EIA) is not fit for purpose and is inadequate, discriminatory, and unfair. Moreover, that only 7% of claims for industrial injuries benefit are made by women and that the system was designed for men’s work and systematically ignores the illness and disease women experience at work, and new modern and emerging workplaces injuries and disease. 

“Congress recognises the progress and work done by the STUC and affiliates to campaign for and build support for the SEIAC Bill and to build a fairer system in Scotland. 

“Congress is therefore disappointed that following scrutiny, the general principles of the SEIAC Bill did not received support by the Scottish Parliament Committee. 

“Therefore, calls on the STUC General Council to: 

• Reaffirm commitment for the development of a Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council; and accelerate and lobbying of the Scottish Government for this. 

• Continue to campaign for long-COVID to be treated as an industrial injury. 

• Support Players Organisations and Governing Bodies, like the Professional Footballers Association, who are campaigning for sports-related concussion and brain injuries to be classified as an industrial injury.

• Make a commitment to advocate for illnesses and diseases, especially within the care system, which disproportionally affect women to be included in the Advisory Council charter.”