Report of the Independent Culture Fair Work Taskforce

Last week the Scottish Government's Independent Culture Fair Work Task Force published its report of 16 recommendations and a draft charter on implementing Fair Work in the Culture sector and Creative Industries.

Culture Counts have been a member of this Taskforce throughout its period of operation, and are delighted to see the recommendations now public. The recommendations include an adjudication panel in the sector for disputes, an encouragement to explore the possibility of a basic income for artists in Scotland, a Freelance Commission and a Freelance Commissioner, as well as considerations on the impact of AI.

Briana Pegado, Chair of the Taskforce, said:
“It has been a pleasure chairing the Independent Culture Fair Work Taskforce with colleagues from across the creative industries and culture sector. Union representation, arts organisations, industry membership bodies, enterprise agencies, local authorities, creative networks, historic bodies, museums and freelancers have all been represented. Creative Scotland has also been represented on this task force. I am so grateful to the Taskforce members that have contributed their time, energy and expertise to this work.

“There has been a real commitment to crafting a set of recommendations that speak to areas as broad as fair pay and remuneration to the impact of AI on the cultural sector workforce."

Angus Robertson, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, said:
“I am very grateful to members of the independent Taskforce for their work on this report, which identifies a number of areas for improvement when it comes to how Fair Work is embedded in Scotland’s creative industries.

“I will take time to carefully consider the detail of the recommendations for Scottish Government and will update Parliament in due course on the actions we will take in response. Given that some would intersect with reserved legislation, I will also be writing urgently to ask my UK Government counterparts to consider what actions they can take.”

You can read the full report here, and associated press release here.