First Minister Pledges to Raise Wages and Increase Welsh Contracts

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said his government will fight to reverse Wales' status as a low-pay nation. He made the commitment in a speech to trade unions at the TUC Cymru annual congress in Llandudno on Thursday. The Plaid Cymru leader chose the event as his first public engagement as first minister.

He said the values of the trade union movement had been embedded in the programme his party was elected to deliver.

Iorwerth already faces demands for better pay from unions, particularly in the NHS. Public workers union Unison called for the new health minister Mabon ap Gwynfor to prioritise pay for NHS staff shortly after the 7 May Senedd election. The Unite union has called for ap Iorwerth to resolve a dispute within Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board. Health visitors there went on strike over pay this week.

Iorwerth promised to increase the share of public contracts awarded to Welsh companies from around 55% to at least 70%. He said the change had the potential to create tens of thousands of new jobs. He also said Plaid's plan for a National Development Agency would attract good jobs.

The first minister added that there was little that could be done to address global headwinds from Ukraine and Iran causing a rise in costs and bills. "With no let-up in food inflation and energy prices, we must do more to redress Wales' dishonourable status as a low-pay hotspot," he said.