A group of MSPs are calling for a change in the law to prevent firms that use blacklists from receiving contracts involving taxpayers’ cash.

According to trade unions, up to 5,000 construction workers in Scotland are on employers’ blacklists because of their involvement in campaigns to improve workplace conditions.

Labour’s Neil Findlay and Richard Baker are calling for SNP ministers to back the move as part of the Scottish Government’s Procurement Bill.

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Scotland’s public bodies spend over £9bn each year on procurement, with construction contracts accounting for more than £2bn.

A Scottish Government consultation on the bill for 2013 is to debate how to increase the use of "community-benefit clauses in higher-value contracts" to force firms to promote employment and training opportunities for Scots.

The Unite union in Scotland is backing the campaign to prevent blacklisting.

Mr Findlay and Mr Baker have promised to try to amend the bill.

Mr Findlay told The Scotsman: "The Scottish affairs select committee and its chairman, Ian Davidson, have done tremendous work in exposing the outrageous practices of many of the large construction companies, who blacklisted workers for being health and safety reps, environmental or union activists, or on very spurious grounds, such as having attended a political meeting."

(IT/GK)