Insecure zero-hours work is no longer confined to the fringes of the jobs market

Commenting on the latest estimate of the number of workers on zero-hours contracts, published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“Insecure work with no guarantee of regular paid hours is no longer confined to the fringes of the jobs market.

“It is worrying that so many young people are trapped on zero-hours contracts, which can hold back their careers and make it harder to pay off debts like student loans. The fact that these contracts have become the norm in tourism, catering and food will be a major concern for the millions of people employed in these industries.

“With a further 1.3m workers reportedly doing no work at all, the jobs market is far more precarious than the government would have us believe. This should spur ministers into action to crackdown on the abuse of zero-hours contracts by employers.”

The recent TUC report Casualisation and Low Pay found that the majority of workers on zero-hours contracts were paid less than the living wage, rising to over three-quarters of workers in the capital.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Casualisation and Low Pay is available at www.tuc.org.uk/sites/default/files/Casualisationandlowpay.docx

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

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