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Commenting on figures published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics, which show that the number of people on zero-hours contracts has increased by 21% over the last year, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

Commenting on figures published today (Thursday) by the Office for National Statistics, which show that the number of people on zero-hours contracts has increased by 21% over the last year, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Zero-hours contracts have become an easy way for bosses to employ staff on the cheap. There is no getting away from the fact that zero-hours workers earn less money and have fewer rights than people with permanent jobs.

“It is very easy for politicians and employers to talk about the ‘flexibility’ these contracts offer. But they are not the ones living at the sharp end of the labour market.

“If you don’t know how much work you will have from one day to the next, paying the bills and arranging things like childcare can be a nightmare.

“Today’s figures are a stark reminder of why we need to create more decent jobs people can actually live on.”

New TUC analysis published today shows that the typical UK employee earns 50% more an hour than the typical worker on a zero-hours contract.

The median hourly rate for a zero-hours worker is £7.25, while for all employees it is £11.05.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Median hourly pay 2016

Zero-hours workers

All employees

Permanent workers

Median hourly rate

£7.25

£11.05

£11.23

Source: Labour Force Survey, April-June 2016

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk
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