TUC Cymru

Wales has pursued a distinctive 'Fair Work' agenda under devolution, establishing a Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Act 2023 that embeds trade union involvement in Welsh public service governance. However, the Welsh Government's ability to fully implement this progressive employment agenda is constrained by the fact that employment law, justice, and policing remain reserved to Westminster.

TUC Cymru's advocacy for full devolution of justice and policing is rooted in the practical experience of trying to implement progressive employment and social justice policies within a devolution settlement that reserves key powers to Westminster. The Social Partnership Act — unique to Wales and unprecedented in the UK — gives trade unions a formal role in public service governance, but its effectiveness is limited when the broader legal and policing frameworks are designed in Westminster without reference to Welsh policy objectives. TUC Cymru argues that aligning justice and policing with Wales' Fair Work agenda requires devolution of these powers, enabling a coherent approach where employment law, workplace enforcement, and criminal justice all reflect the same progressive values. This position connects the trade union movement's traditional concerns (workers' rights, fair pay, workplace safety) directly to the constitutional debate, demonstrating that devolution is not an abstract question but has tangible implications for working conditions across Wales.