Martin Whitfield MSP is backing a bill to establish a new expert council to deliver the replacement for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.

The bill published by Mark Griffin MSP would see new social security powers used to establish an independent council with permanent trade union representation.

The council would have powers to research workplace injury and diseases to help recommend to government which diseases and injuries are eligible for the new benefit.

Statistics from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show that over 2.3 million workers succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year.

Commenting, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“Workers’ voices cannot be ignored in this new benefit. Workers and trade union representatives know their workplaces best, seeing day in day out the risks they and their colleagues face to their health and lives. It is vital that they have a voice in the newly devolved industrial injuries benefit.

“Too many workers have not made it home at the end of their shifts or been unable to return to work after an accident. We owe it to them to make sure this new benefit helps workers in modern workplaces, suffering ill-health and injury right now.

“The Scottish Government should back this bill and deliver a council that has workers voices at the heart of the new benefit.”

Mark Griffin’s Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill was published on 9 June 2023.

Further information can be found at www.parliament.scot/bills-and-laws/proposals-for-bills/proposed-scottish-employment-injuries-advisory-council-bill and enquiries about the bill should be directed to Mark.Griffin.msp@parliament.scot.