Pathways Pre-start Fund: form and guidance

Fair Work framework criteria

Fair Work First is part of our commitment for Scotland to be a fair and equal society. You will be asked how your organisation will commit to the Fair Work Framework criteria over the period of funding.

Fair Work First is the Scottish Government’s flagship policy for driving high quality and fair work, and workforce diversity across the labour market in Scotland. Through this approach the Scottish Government is supporting employers who adopt fair working practices, specifically:

• payment of at least the real Living Wage
• provide appropriate channels for effective workers’ voice, such as trade union recognition
• investment in workforce development
• no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
• action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace
• offer flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment
• oppose the use of fire and rehire practice

The Fair Work First criteria seek to address particular challenges in Scotland's labour market, to make a real difference to people and their communities, business and other organisations and the economy.

In line with the Bute House Agreement, the default position is that all grant recipients awarded a public sector grant on or after 1 July 2023 will be required to pay at least the real Living Wage and provide appropriate channels for effective workers' voice as a minimum standard

The Scottish Government asks that organisations accessing grant funding provide a short statement on their own website highlighting their commitment to advancing the Fair Work First criteria, including the real Living Wage and effective voice conditions. The statement should be agreed jointly by the employer and an appropriate workplace representative. This representative should be from the relevant trade union(s) where one or more is recognised, alternatively where there is no union recognition, it should be another appropriate workers' representative.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria

If your organisation does not meet the eligibility criteria, then we cannot consider an application from you.