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Fair work is crucial to delivering financial security in Scotland. Without decent pay, secure work, or reliable hours, and without opportunities to progress in work, financial security will be difficult if not impossible to achieve for many.

Recognising the important role of fair work in securing a fairer Scotland, the government has made several key commitments – not least its ambition to become a ‘fair work nation’ by 2025. This briefing starts to assess its progress and, importantly, where further effort is needed if we are to achieve that ambition by 2025.

Overall, we find the evidence points to a need to go further, faster. That is especially true in ensuring that people receive fair pay and secure hours – however, this is also where the government experiences some of the most significant policy reservations under the current devolution settlement.