The Scottish Grocers’ Federation has called on the Scottish Government to support key legislation aimed at protecting convenience staff from assault and abuse.
In a strongly worded letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice Humza Yousaf, SGF made it clear that one positive legacy of the current Covid-19 crisis must be to create a safer in-store environment.
The Federation’s intervention comes as the parliamentary process around MSP Daniel Johnson’s Protection of Workers Bill reaches a crucial phase: the Economy and Fair Work Committee will produce its recommendation on approval or rejection of the Bill to parliament this month.
SGF Chief Executive Pete Cheema (pictured giving evidence to the Economy and Fair Work Committee in March) said: “We have urged the Cabinet Secretary to send a clear signal that the Scottish Government supports this Bill. The current legislation is not working. The current crisis has shown how important convenience stores are to our communities. The remarkable response from staff must be recognised – the best way to do this is by ensuring they can work in safety.”
