Fair Employment & Just Labour Markets
What this means in Orkney
As major employers, Anchor Institutions and businesses can improve incomes, security and wellbeing by adopting Fair Work First practices: paying the Real Living Wage, providing flexible and secure work, giving a voice to employees, tackling the gender pay gap, and adopting inclusive recruitment and progression practices.
Our starting point
- Most anchors already pay the Real Living Wage and support Fair Work First; the Local Employability Partnership promote employment rights and skills pathways.
- Orkney faces seasonal and part‑time patterns, and much lower pay for women than the Scottish average, so action here is critical.
Priorities for 2025–2030
- Establishing a cross-partner Workforce Group (HR departments & unions) to share practice and raise standards across anchors.
- Developing a plan to reduce Orkney’s gender pay gap to at least the Scottish average by 2030.
- Support disabled people into fair work;
- Create an Orkney Skills Action Plan aligned to needs of employees, jobseekers, and employers
- Work towards Living Wage Place accreditation.
How you can get involved
- Employers: implement fair work principles, explore becoming a Real Living Wage Employer and, where appropriate, explore becoming a Living Hours Employer.
- People seeking work: Contact the Local Employability Partnership for support, training and progression routes.
- Community groups: Help identify barriers (e.g., transport, childcare) to entering and getting the most from work and co‑design solutions with us.
More Information
Real Living Wage: https://www.povertyalliance.org/living-wage/
Living Hours: https://scottishlivingwage.org/living-hours/
Local Employability Partnership: https://olep.org/