Chamber and committees

In response to discussions at the Education and Skills Committee in 2019, research was commissioned on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work. An independent report into Precarious and Flexible Working will be published on the Scottish Government website later today.

The research report presents findings on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work. These findings cover a number of areas including young people’s circumstances, awareness of contractual status, types of precarious or flexible working conditions, experience of precarious and flexible working conditions and views around changing working circumstances. The research emphasises the importance of the individual’s circumstances in their determination of whether their contract arrangements are appropriate or not. These findings support our policy approach within the Young Person’s Guarantee of taking a person centred approach to policy design and delivery.

In response to the report’s recommendations, we have updated The Young Person's Guarantee website to signpost young people who want to change their current contract status out of precarious and flexible work, to guidance which will support them to do this. The findings from the report will be discussed with the Young Person’s Guarantee Implementation Group, whose membership includes the STUC. In particular the matter of young people not having formal contract arrangements, which is explored within the research, will be considered further as part of our ongoing fair work considerations within the Guarantee. We will also consider the potential of further research in relation to the impact Covid-19 has had on young people’s experiences of precarious and flexible work.

The Scottish Government promotes and encourages flexible working and works with employers to encourage flexible, agile and inclusive workplaces that benefit all employees, including those participating in the Young Person’s Guarantee. However the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other non-standard types of employment that offer workers minimum job or financial security is not supported by Scottish Government. This is stated in the criteria for Fair Work First, the relaunched Scottish Business Pledge and is reflected within the Young Person’s Guarantee.