Minimum Income Guarantee: Experts by Experience Panel report

Principle eight: fair work

The Minimum Income Guarantee should be delivered with support for fair paid work and should value unpaid work, as far as is reasonably practical.

Rationale

People who carry out unpaid roles, including unpaid carers, volunteers and people doing any other sort of unpaid work should be eligible for the Minimum Income Guarantee. People require choices, but within the boundaries of what is practical for everyone to live a good life.

The unpaid sector in Scotland does a lot to support society and the paid sector. This must be recognised as part of a Minimum Income Guarantee.

For people who work, this work must be fair to enable a decent quality of life.

Considerations

• This is about lifting people out of poverty, in a way which is fair for taxpayers (such as a fair percentage contribution of their income) and for employers.
• Unpaid or low paid work should be considered within the fair work principles.
• Employers need to consider flexible options such as job sharing, part time and hybrid working to attract and retain employees.
• The work system needs re-structuring to make it fair for all. This could look like individual needs being met through equity - for example, those with the greatest needs are prioritised i.e., those with disabilities, those with children, those that are really facing barriers in order for them to get the same benefit. This could be done by considering how employers are encouraged to provide opportunities such as tax incentives and fines etc and power dynamics within the workforce are addressed equally.
• There needs to be a strengthening of work places that goes beyond lip service to improve disability support.

Communications

• Work and/or the Minimum Income Guarantee should enable people to have a decent standard of living - not have to stay in the 'mud' of poverty.

Support

29 members voted on the level of support for this principle. Overall supported by 96% of panel members of which:

• 66% (19 members) 'strongly support'
• 21% (6 members) 'support'
• 10% (3 members) 'neutral'
• and 3% (one member) 'strongly oppose'

Members were asked, "if you do not support principle eight, please tell us what would be needed for you to support it".

One member who selected 'neutral' commented:

"Just to give everyone mig, to be told thresholds of why people don't get mig (sic)"

Reflections, recommendations and next steps