Scotland should consider introducing a four-day working week, the country's first ever Citizens Assembly has recommended.
The bold idea is among 60 proposals made by the group, which was set up by the Scottish Government in 2019, as a new way of engaging the public on decision-making.
The Assembly included 100 Scots from across the country to broadly represent the public in terms of demography, geography and political views.
It was set up along the lines of a similar group in Ireland, which ultimately led to that country’s abortion laws being changed.
Its report, published today, recommendations on income, poverty, tax, the economy, health and wellbeing, support for young people, and further powers for the Scottish Parliament.
But it did not take a view on Scottish independence - despite concerns from opposition parties the project would be too heavily influenced by the SNP.
Ministers are not bound to enact any of the proposals but members of the Assembly have called on MSPs to "take the report seriously".
More than 70 per cent of its members backed a proposal for the introduction of a four-day week, while more than 80 per cent called for taxation to be made "fairer for all citizens".
There was also broad support for the Scottish Parliament to be handed more powers, with a majority of members backing the full devolution of immigration powers to Holyrood.
The Assembly called for the abolition of zero-hours contracts and for the living wage to be made a legal requirement.
The report will be laid in parliament for debate with an action plan to follow.
The Assembly was asked to consider what kind of country was being built and how best to tackle key challenges, deliberating on a range of evidence from key experts.
The group was paused in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and resumed in September.
Convener Kate Wimpress said: “Our members made up a ‘mini-Scotland’ and worked hard together over many months to find common ground.
“I’m delighted that the Assembly’s report offers such a positive vision for our future and a set of bold and imaginative recommendations.
“This is not a box ticked, or a full stop, but a beginning, opening up a new chapter in our democracy with citizens at its heart.
“It puts Scotland at the forefront of democratic innovation globally.”
