UNIONS in Wales have called on the country’s new government to prioritise workplace equality and create a “fair work” nation.

The Wales TUC published its Securing a Fair Recovery manifesto before voters went to the polls today.

Based on a YouGov poll of 1,194 adults in Wales, commissioned by the union congress, it details workers’ priorities of increased spending on public services including pay rises.

Wales TUC general secretary Shavanah Taj said: “The last year has shown the grim reality of our labour market for tens of thousands of workers across Wales. 

“Young workers, BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) workers, and people in insecure work have been disproportionately hit — losing jobs, income, skills and opportunities.

“We have worked with the Welsh government to get a better deal for workers — whether that’s strengthening the Covid safety legislation to ensure safer workplaces or pushing for action on pay and conditions in the social care sector.

“But if we’re to rebuild a fairer and more resilient Wales then we now need to go further and faster.”

The poll found that the top priority for workers was increased funding for public services such as the NHS, social care and local government.

Investment in green infrastructure, broadband, electric transport and home retrofitting was also favoured.

More than three quarters of those polled wanted pay rises across the board for public-sector workers, including nurses, care workers and hospital porters and cleaners.

There was also support for a ban on zero-hours contracts and for rent controls in the private rental sector.

A significant number of workers also wanted key decisions about Wales to be taken in Wales, including regarding the country’s health, education, economic development, welfare and taxation.

By a margin of almost three to one, workers believed that the Welsh economy needs to be rebalanced with stronger regulation to protect workers’ rights.

In its manifesto, the Wales TUC called for investment in Wales’s green infrastructure to create 60,000 green jobs in the next two years.

It also called for increased skills funding and for the next Welsh government to deliver on its race equality action plan to tackle systemic racial injustices.

“We need a Welsh government that is going to fight for good jobs, stronger unions, and a more equal Wales,” Ms Taj said.