Using public procurement to drive up standards

Unions have identified public sector outsourcing as a key driver of casualisation and campaign and negotiate to encourage contractors and end users to offer only contracts based on regular and predictable hours, with terms and conditions matching those of direct permanent staff.

Unions are calling for far greater use to be made of public procurement powers to promote decent terms and conditions and direct employment, and there have been notable successes. For example, the Scottish Affairs Select Committee on Blacklisting has called for a commitment to direct employment to be made a condition of the award of all Scottish public construction projects, and the Welsh government is considering adopting a similar course.

In an important step, February 2014 saw the adoption of the European Directive 2014/24/EU on Public Procurement. The Directive, which must be implemented by member states by April 2016, requires member states to take steps to ensure that environmental, social and labour standards and obligations, including collective agreements, are respected when awarding public contracts.