A TRADE UNION has called on the government to follow Scotland’s lead and legislate for the specific offence of abusing retail and bar workers.

It’s after a survey of Mandate members has found that more than one in 10 has been assaulted at work and two thirds verbally abused.

The results of the survey are being presented today by the union to the junior minister with responsibility for the retail sector Alan Dillon along with a request that the Government support legislation introduced by Fianna Fáil senator Mary Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick’s Protection of Retail Workers’ Bill aims to give stronger protections to workers in the industry.

Mandate pointed to a 37% spike in prosecutions of threatening and abusive behaviour in Scotland after its government introduced similar legislation four years ago. There has also been a 36% increase in the prosecution of common assault offences of retail workers.

Mandate’s assistant general secretary Jim Fuery said that Mandate’s members in retail and bars needed additional legal safeguards to protect them from the “appalling” abuse that so many face in their workplaces.

Fuery added that the situation for Irish bar and retail workers is very similar to that of their counterparts in Scotland, except that they currently have stronger legal protection thanks to the Edinburgh government.

“This data proves that the creation of specific offences in relation to bar and retail workers has helped to secure stronger criminal justice outcomes compared to the situation before the Protection of Workers (Scotland) Act came into effect,” Fuery said.