The government, TUC, CBI, and two umbrella organisations for the voluntary sector have signed an agreement (PDF format, 238KB) that aims to increase access to skills, trade unions and advice, for employees working under government contracts.
The joint statement was developed to help achieve the government's aim of ensuring that 95% of UK adults have basic literacy and numeracy skills by 2020. According to the announcement, it will also help "lower-skilled workers" get information about their rights in the workplace.
Under the agreement, any person employed by companies who win government contracts should be able to access basic skills training at work, be able to find out how to join a union, and learn more about the law and how it relates to their job.
Government contracting organisations will be expected, at procurement stage, to identify the basic skills needed for delivery of a contract. They will also need to include "performance conditions" requiring contractors to provide access to basic skills training in accordance with the public procurement framework.
When tendering for government contracts, potential service providers will be expected to provide evidence that their workforce has the relevant basic skills. They will also need to identify and plan to acquire and meet the basic skills needs of all relevant employees.
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