The Scottish Government

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Ministerial Foreword

Scotland faces the challenge of delivering greater economic prosperity in the knowledge that we have a poorer health record than many of our leading economic competitors and demographic trends which suggest that our working-age population is likely to decline in the years ahead.

When we launched the Health Improvement Challenge document in March 2003, we identified the workplace as an area for focused action to promote public health and tackle inequalities. This document, our action plan for Healthy Working Lives, demonstrates our commitment to taking forward such action. It recognises that health improvement cannot be delivered solely by the NHS and outlines actions which link, promote and improve access to services covering education, workplace safety, social support and vocational advice and training. It also provides the framework for delivery of key Partnership Agreement commitments aimed at improving the health of working-age people such as the development of well men clinics, personal health plans and employee screening services.

Healthy Working Lives has been developed in partnership with representatives of trade unions, small and large business, voluntary groups, the Health and Safety Executive and a range of medical professionals. It looks to build upon the success of existing initiatives and draws together what, until now, have been distinct strands of work focusing on Employability, Health & Safety, Occupational Health and Health Promotion into a single coherent strategy which will allow us to better engage with, and enthuse, employers in all sectors of the economy. It provides a focus for an ongoing partnership with UK-wide organisations such as the Department for Work and Pensions and the Health and Safety Executive and describes a series of practical steps which, we believe, will deliver real benefits for Scottish employers and their current and future employees.

Healthy Working Lives signals our intention to improve the health of working-age people in Scotland. It talks a language which, we believe, can appeal to employers across all sectors of the economy and seeks their support in the national effort to improve our competitiveness as a nation through action to improve health and reduce health inequalities. This strategy can deliver real and practical benefits for people, for organisations and for business. We commend it to you.

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