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As the clocks go back tonight (Saturday) to mark the beginning of winter, the TUC is calling for better pay and conditions for night-workers – including the 133,000 key workers who regularly work nights in the East Midlands. 

 

  • New analysis shows that 1 in 3 night-workers earn less than £10 an hour   
  • Key workers are twice as likely to do night shifts than other workers  
  • Many working overnight are on low pay and insecure contracts, warns union body  

New analysis published by the union body reveals that 1 in 3 (35%) night-workers in the UK earn less than £10 an hour. This is despite the heightened health risks that come with night work and the disruption it causes to workers’ lives.  

Key workers  

The analysis also shows that key workers (133,000) account for half of the East Midlands’ 267,000 night-workers.  

Key workers are twice as likely to work overnight than other workers.  

Low-paid and insecure  

The TUC says that many key workers who keep vital services going overnight are undervalued and often employed on low pay and insecure contracts. 

Care workers are more likely to work night shifts than other profession. But many earn less than £10 an hour and are on zero-hours contracts.   

The union body says the government must use its long-awaited employment bill to “level up” conditions for workers in this sector starting with banning zero-hours contracts.  

Health impact of night work  

As well as being bad for family life, the health risks of regular night work include cardiovascular disease, diabetes and depression.  

The TUC is calling for a number of measures to protect and compensate night workers. These include:  

  • Pay to properly reflect the likely additional costs of childcare and inconvenience that night shifts can entail.  
  • New legislation to ensure that workers always have sufficient notice of their shift patterns so they can make arrangements well in advance.   
  • Compensation for shift changes at short notice.  

 TUC Regional Secretary Lee Barron said:“Working through the night is tough – especially in the middle of a global pandemic.   

 “We all owe night workers in our region a huge debt for keeping services running while we are asleep.  

 “It is not right that so many of those who work overnight – especially in key sectors like care – are on low pay and insecure contracts.  

 “The government must ensure that all night workers are treated with dignity at work. That means levelling up working conditions and pay and ensuring people are given proper notice of their shifts.  

 “And it means honouring the promise to increase the minimum wage that would benefit over two million key workers.”  

Editors note

Top 10 occupations for night workers  

Profession  

Number  

Caring Personal Services  

406,000 

Nursing and Midwifery Professionals  

245,000  

Protective Service Occupations  

194,000  

Road Transport Drivers  

186,000  

Other Elementary Services Occupations  

162,000  

Health Professionals  

116,000 

Elementary Security Occupations  

89,000 

Sales Assistants and Retail Cashiers  

88,000  

Artistic, Literary and Media Occupations  

81,000  

Elementary Storage Occupations  

76,000  

Managers and Proprietors in Hospitality and Leisure Services  

74,000  

Source: ONS Labour Force Survey, Apr-Jun 20, Usual to work at night  

 

Night workers by UK region/nation  

 

Region/nation  

Number of night workers  

Number of key workers doing night shifts  

% of night workers who are key workers  

North East  

201,000 

100,000 

50%  

 

North West  

424,000 

231,000 

54%  

 

Yorkshire and Humberside  

306,000 

183,000 

60%  

 

East Midlands  

267,000 

133,000 

50%  

 

West Midlands  

285,000 

136,000 

48%  

 

East of England  

293,000 

150,000 

51%  

 

London  

415,000 

180,000 

44%  

 

South East  

417,000 

218,000 

52%  

 

South West  

259,000 

137,000 

53%  

 

Wales  

169,000 

97,000 

57%  

 

UK  

3,410,000 

1,764,000 

52%  

 

Source: Source: ONS Labour Force Survey, Apr-Jun 20, Usual to work at night  

  

-The TUC estimates (based on official figures) that 1.2 million night-workers earn less than £10 an hour. That equates to more than 1 in 3 (35%) of night workers.  

-17% of key workers regularly work overnight compared to 8% of other workers.   

-The Trades Union Congress (TUC) exists to make the working world a better place for everyone. We bring together more than 5.5 million working people who make up our 48 member unions. We support unions to grow and thrive, and we stand up for everyone who works for a living.  

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