The charter is in response to weather incidents leading up to, and including, the ‘Beast from the East’ in March 2018.

Joint work between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Trades Union Congress, which represents unions across Scotland, started even before the snow in 2018 had melted.

Prospect national secretary Richard Hardy said this showed just how seriously the unions and the Government took the incidents that occurred – and the possibility of future problems.

Although employment law is not devolved to the Scottish Government, the charter sets out a clear agenda for employers and employees.

It continues the ‘Fair Work’ agenda for employment in Scotland which the Government and the unions have drawn up together.

Speaking on behalf of Prospect, Richard Hardy said: “The STUC and the Scottish Government should be highly commended for seeking to protect the health and safety of workers across the Scottish economy.

“This shows what can be achieved when a government values the input of trade unions and works with them to do the right thing for workers,’ he concluded.