In-work poverty has grown out of control as a result of “uncaring” Westminster governments, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has said.
John Swinney pledged that SNP MPs would work to tackle the problem as he set out the party’s strategy for fair work on a campaign visit to Perth.
It includes a commitment to back increasing the minimum wage to £8.70 by the end of the next parliament in 2020, take action against zero-hours contracts and raise the number of employers in Scotland paying the living wage of £7.85 from 150 to 500 in the next 12 months.
Mr Swinney said his party’s plans for an end to austerity and an extra £180 billion of public spending would boost jobs and economic growth.
He accused Westminster of “dragging its heels” over the promised devolution of the work programme and called for powers over employment to be transferred to Holyrood “as a matter of urgency”.
Mr Swinney said: “Fair work will play a key role in making Scotland the fairer, more equal society everyone wants to see – which is why it is a principle which the SNP will be putting at the heart of our election campaign for the next four weeks.
“We can do things better in Scotland and we should have the opportunity to do so – but in the meantime the SNP will ensure that progressive politics are put firmly on Westminster’s agenda and will ensure that working people are given the fair deal they deserve.
“Working people have been let down for far too long by Westminster parties which simply don’t represent their interests – and with both Labour and the Tories signed up to George Osborne’s plans for a further £30 billion of cuts, it is clear that things are only going to get worse.
“Our plan to boost the minimum wage to £8.70 will ensure these jobs deliver a fair day’s pay and allow us to tackle the scourge of in-work poverty which has grown out of control thanks to the uncaring attitude of both Labour and Tory UK governments.”