On Wednesday 18th April, SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire, attended a parliamentary reception hosted by the Public and Commercial Services Union Scotland (PCS) to gain insight into their views on how Scotland should build a social security system based on dignity and respect.
The PCS is the largest trade union representing the civil service workforce in both the UK and Scotland, including over 51,000 in the Department for Work and Pensions, and is well placed to positively participate as Scotland develops its own social security system.
The PCS is committed to working with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to ensure that Scotland creates a social security system that ‘truly works for those in need of social security, and for the workers administrating it.’
Amongst the key recommendations discussed at the reception were that ‘dignity and respect should be extended to those employed to deliver social security as well as those in receipt of it’, through, for example, ensuring that workers have decent pay, terms and conditions, and ensuring that Scotland has a welfare system ‘based on need and not moral judgements.’
Commenting, Ruth, who is a member of Holyrood’s Social Security Committee, said:
“The Scottish Government is committed to building a fairer and more respectful social security system with the powers that are coming to Holyrood in this area.
Listening to and acting on the experiences of those who will be in the front line is of critical importance as we work to build a Scottish social security system based on dignity and respect.
I am grateful to the Public and Commercial Services Union for taking the time to share their helpful and insightful views with us as we work towards creating a fairer and better system for the people of Scotland.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 