Article

Work is at the centre of how we organise our society and our lives.

Fair work can provide people with a decent standard of living, a sense of purpose and a means of contributing to society. But for too many people in Scotland, work fails to deliver decent living standards or the security on which to build a good life.

This paper is the second in a series exploring how to achieve a living income for more people in Scotland, through social security, fair work, and collective services.

In this paper we focus on the role of fair work in achieving a living income for in-work households in Scotland. We argue that fair work can contribute to financial security across four key dimensions:

  • decent rates of pay
  • sufficient and reliable hours
  • good working conditions, including job security, fulfilment, and voice
  • opportunity to develop and progress.