Labour’s plans to Get Britain Working must deliver for young people

Responding to today’s (Tuesday) labour market data, which show ongoing challenges including falling payrolls and vacancies, with youth unemployment at a post-pandemic high, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:   

“Labour’s budget took some vital first steps to repair the economic damage left by the Tories – stronger growth is an essential starting point for more jobs and higher pay. The government’s plan to Get Britain Working must now focus on supporting young people out of long-term unemployment.  

“With long-term youth unemployment now at a post-pandemic high and still rising, young people urgently need genuine opportunities to work or engage in training. Acting now can set young people up for a better future. 

“The Get Britain Working white paper will also be an important opportunity to provide life-changing health and employment support to people who are economically inactive because of ill health, but who desperately want to work again.” 

Zero-hours contracts 

Commenting on figures also published by the ONS today, which show there are now 1.13 million people on zero-hours contracts, Paul Nowak said: 

“Everyone deserves a decent, secure job that they can build a life on. 

“But over a million workers are trapped on zero-hours contracts that offer them little or no security – not knowing how much they will earn from one week to the next and unable to plan budgets or childcare. 

“A crackdown on these exploitative zero-hours contracts is long overdue. 

“Labour’s Employment Rights Bill is a decisive step towards tackling the scourge of insecure work. 

“All working people should have a right to a contract that reflects their regular hours of work and reasonable notice of shifts.”