A WEST of Scotland MSP is backing proposals to enhance protection for shopworkers who face abuse, harassment and violence after a Bill was lodged in the Scottish Parliament, with trade unions and retail bodies also supporting the legislation.

The new proposals, which aim to provide additional protection for retail staff and those who sell age-restricted items, are being supported by Labour’s Mary Fee.

The Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-Restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill was launched on Thursday, October 10, with wide ranging and overwhelming backing from trade unions and retail bodies, such as USDAW (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers), the Scottish Retail Consortium and the Scottish Grocers’ Federation.

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Ms Fee, a former retail employee, has vowed to back the Bill to ensure that workers in retail and those selling age-restricted items, such as bar and restaurants workers, have more protection to prevent abuse and violence that many in the industry suffer.

She said: “Having worked in retail I know first-hand the abuse, harassment and violence that many in the industry face every day.

“That is why I am backing the new Bill to protect retail workers.

“It is shocking that the majority of retail staff and staff selling age-restricted goods face such abuse and threatening behaviour. We must end this and ensure that people go to work and feel safe.

“I congratulate my colleague Daniel Johnson MSP who has worked with trade unions and retail industry groups to launch this Bill and gather widespread support.”

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Retail is Scotland’s largest private sector industry, with an estimated 260,000 employed, with hospitality employing around 115,000 people.

This means that around 375,000 Scots could be given further protection from abuse at their workplace.

Statistics released by USDAW in 2017 show that more than six out of 10 shop workers had experienced verbal abuse, while almost one in three (32 per cent) were threatened by customers and 2.3 per cent were assaulted, which amounts to 15 assaults on shop workers every day.

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