MSPs back the motion from the 'Progressive workplace policies to boost productivity, growth and jobs' debate, having rejected the amendment from Scottish Conservative Cameron Buchanan.

The motion was passed with 93 MSPs backing it and 11 voting against it.

Image source, Thinkstock

That's it from us for now, we will of course be back next Tuesday morning with the pick of the committees.

Remember, you can watch all today's business and the best of the week's debates and committees at BBC Scotland's Democracy Live website.

Have a lovely weekend.

MSPs vote on the motion and amendment from the 'Progressive workplace policies to boost productivity, growth and jobs' debate.

The cabinet secretary closes by calling on all parties to commit to supporting the positive proposals from major charities and third sector organisations regarding the national minimum wage being devolved.

Ms Constance says business productivity goes hand in hand with proper and fair pay.

Ms Constance says it is imperative that the government, trade unionists and employers work together to ensure we get that quality and productive dialogue between them all.

"There is no recommendation in this report that I am adverse to." Says Ms Constance.

She says the government have acted quickly to bring forward the Fair Work Convention.

Training, Youth and Women's Employment Secretary Angela Constance says this debate is an important part of the Scottish government's engagement process.

It allows MSPs to shape and influence the government's response to the Working Group Review, says Ms Constance.

She says consensus on the issue of progressive work place policies is important and she says there was much consensus in the debate.

Ms Marra says the announcement of a Fair Work Convention is welcome, but it cannot be just a "talking shop".

A key recommendation of the Working Together Review, the Fair Work Convention will be a stakeholder body which will provide leadership on Scottish industrial relations, and which will promote the principles behind fair work.

It will encourage dialogue between unions, employers public sector bodies and government.

Labour's youth employment spokesman Jenny Marra says it is the role of the Scottish government to maintain a clear dialogue with our unions to see potential achieved.

Only by the government and unions working together can Scotland's workplaces succeed, Ms Marra says.

The Labour MSP agrees with Liam McArthur on the importance of women working for the economy.

She says colleges should be the powerhouses of a modern industrial economy, the cuts to colleges have disproportionately affected women, older workers and part-time courses for those returning to work.

Scottish Conservative MSP Gavin Brown says it has been a worthwhile debate and he thanks Jim Mather for the work he did on this report.

Mr Brown says Mr Mather is "always somebody worth listening to".

However the Lothians list MSP says one of most interesting points in the debate is that the Scottish government doesn't seem to have a position in relation to this review and that they are "all at sea".

He also says he is "a little sceptical about the timing of this review"

The government forced the Working Group Review into a tight timescale for its report and then has doing nothing in the three months since it was published, concludes Mr Brown.

SNP MSP Sandra White says we should expand on the interest young people showed in the independence referendum campaign to enhance employment prospects.

Ms White also adds her praise to the Working Group Review report.

SNP MSP Rob Gibson says he has been in a union all his life firstly as a teacher and then in the musician's union.

Mr Gibson says their work means they have got to be involved in the decision making in workplaces

Labour MSP Alex Rowley also highlights the Working Group Review report saying: "It is important that we do see some kind of timescales being put on to the report otherwise the danger is it will be kicked into the long grass".

A timetable is something that would be important, says the Labour MSP for Cowdenbeath.

Training, Youth and Women's Employment Secretary Angela Constance says she will be coming back to the parliament at the beginning of the year with the government's response to the detailed report, an intervention Mr Rowley welcomes.

Scottish Liberal Democrats MSP Liam McArthur says his party have put a stronger economy, a fairer society and creating opportunity for all at the centre of its economic policy perspective.

Mr McArthur says unemployment is down, employment is up and says it would be unfortunate for the SNP to claim credit for the upturn having blamed everyone else for the downturn.

Scotland's jobless total fell by 10,000 over the summer to stand at 164,000, according to official figures published yesterday.

The Scottish unemployment rate is now 5.9%, which is just below the UK figure of 6%.

UK unemployment fell by 115,000 between July and September to just under two million.

Scottish Labour's Youth Employment spokesperson Jenny Marra congratulates Jim Mather and his Working Together Review Group team on the work to produce the report.

Ms Marra goes on to say if Scottish Labour form the next government at Holyrood, it will adopt all 30 recommendations of the review.

She says a progressive work force policy leads to successful production.

Another quote for the chamber, this time from Paul R. Krugman, who Ms Marra cites: "Productivity isn't everything, but in the long run it is almost everything".

Scottish Conservative Cameron Buchanan is leading for his party in the debate.

Mr Buchanan's amendment is in full below:

Progressive Workplace Policies to Boost Productivity, Growth and Jobs-As an amendment to motion S4M-11507 in the name of Angela Constance (Progressive Workplace Policies to Boost Productivity, Growth and Jobs), leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert "recognises that sustained employment and innovation provide the best route out of poverty and the best way to boost productivity; welcomes the substantial rise in the personal allowance and real-terms rise in the national minimum wage as well as recent increases in productivity and record employment figures under the current UK government, and considers that effective communication between unions, employees and employers should be welcomed."

Ms Constance concludes with a quote from Adam Smith: "No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable."

Image source, Getty Images

In February 2014 the Scottish government commissioned an independent review of progressive workplace policies and practices in the public and private sectors in Scotland.

The Working Together review was asked to focus on measures that would optimise the relationships that link trade unions, employers and Government, and make recommendations on: opportunities for innovation that would enhance productivity, workplace development, and labour market security and resilience.

The Working Together Review report, external was published in August.

The review also makes recommendations on what constitutes good practice, the principles that underpin it, the benefits it delivers, and how it might be more widely supported, adopted and secured; opportunities to promote collective bargaining, workplace democracy, diversity and equality, including specifically the participation of women.

Training, Youth and Women's Employment Secretary Angela Constance leads the debate for the government.

In her motion she says the parliament should welcome the report of the Working Together Review Group.

Ms Constance says well-rewarded and sustained employment, progressive workplace policies and innovation provide the best route out of poverty.

The cabinet secretary says it also is the best way to tackle inequality and boost productivity.

supports the review group's prioritisation of capacity building, dialogue, shared commitment and real opportunities for unions, employees and employers to work together, and endorses the decision to establish a fair work convention.

The Scottish government is leading a debate on progressive workplace policies to boost productivity, growth and jobs.

Scottish Conservative MSP and SPCB member Liz Smith pays tribute to the "very considerable contribution" of Margo MacDonald and also pays tribute to Brian Adam, David McLetchie and Helen Eadie who all died while still MSPs.

Ms Smith says the SPCB has no policy on memorials but is happy to look into the possibility to create one.

Ms Grahame says perhaps the corporate body would think about a discreet memorial plaque listing all MSPs who died while serving in the Parliament.

The SPCB will indeed consider the suggestion says Ms Grahame.

Image source, PA

SNP MSP Christine Grahame asks the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what consideration it has given to commemorating and celebrating the contribution of Margo MacDonald to the Parliament.