How will the Welsh Government’s stated commitment to fair work and social partnership deliver targeted measures to support employees with caring responsibilities?
As outlined in the Delivery Plan for our Strategy for Unpaid Carers, we are working in social partnership to engage with the public, private and third sectors, including trade unions, to improve awareness and engagement in supporting unpaid carers in the workplace. As part of our commitment to fair work, we are working with social partners to encourage the adoption of fair employment practices, including remote and flexible working which could make a real difference to those with caring responsibilities. We are working with Carers Wales and statutory bodies, including local health boards, to encourage employers in all sectors to improve their support for employees with caring responsibilities. This can be through the national Employers for Carers scheme or programmes such as the regional Investors in Carers scheme in West Wales.
Employment rights are reserved but we fully support the Carer’s Leave Bill, a Private Members’ Bill which will introduce a week of unpaid leave to employees with caring responsibilities. Should this Bill become law, we will use our social partnership mechanisms to raise awareness of this entitlement.