by Niall Christie

LEGISLATION giving protection to retail workers in Scotland is expected to be made into law this week.

A vote will be held on Tuesday on the Protection of Workers (Retail and Age-restricted Goods and Services) (Scotland) Bill. 

Pushed through by Scottish Labour’s Daniel Johnson, the law will create a new offence of assaulting, threatening or abusing a retail worker and provide further protections when workers are carrying out their statutory duties such as age-restricted sales. 

All parties in Holyrood have signalled their support for the Bill, with groups, including the Co-operative Party and unions Usdaw and GMB, also backing it. 

Mr Johnson said: “This pandemic has seen retail workers on the front line; performing critical roles, supplying the basic essentials to all of us and keeping us safe as we do so. 

“With us now living under another national lockdown, it’s more important than ever that our essential retail workers are properly protected and supported.”