Fair Work First is the Scottish Government's policy for driving good quality and fair work in Scotland. Through this approach, the Scottish Government, and its public sector partners, ask suppliers to commit to adopt and continue to embed the 7 Fair Work First criteria:

1. appropriate channels for effective voice, such as trade union recognition
2. investment in workforce development
3. no inappropriate use of zero hours contracts
4. action to tackle the gender pay gap and create a more diverse and inclusive workplace
5. providing fair pay for workers (for example, payment of the real Living Wage)
6. offer flexible and family friendly working practices for all workers from day one of employment
7. oppose the unfair use of fire and rehire practices.

In order to ensure the highest standards of contract delivery, the Council expects suppliers to commit to fair work practices set out in the Fair Work Framework.

When inviting tenders from bidders, the Fair Working First section of the tender documents shall be proportionate and relevant to the contract and weightings assigned accordingly for evaluation.

The Living Wage is independently calculated in November each year based on what employees and their families need to live. Employers choose to pay the real Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The rates apply to all workers over 18 – in recognition that young people face the same living costs as everyone else. Paying a wage that is enough to live on is good for business, good for the individual and good for society.

The current value of the UK Living Wage can be found online on the Living Wage Scotland website.

Falkirk Council is an accredited Living Wage employer. As such the Council is required to work with the supply chain to ensure that suppliers pay the Scottish Living Wage for those employees that work regularly on Council premises, ie for 2 or more hours a day, in any day of the week, for 8 or more consecutive weeks of the year. The Living Wage does not apply to contractors that supply goods to the Council.

There is a high cost to the Council for implementing the Living Wage and as such, contracts include clear rationale for aiming to secure the Living Wage.

Where the Living Wage is not being paid by contracted suppliers, the Council shall work with those suppliers to progress towards their payment of the Living Wage to their staff. When retendering for these services, the Fair Working Practices section of the tender document shall be proportionate and relevant to the contract and weightings assigned accordingly for evaluation.