The rise and rise of zero-hours contracts: 900,000 workers now have them
Business
The rise and rise of zero-hours contracts: 900,000 workers now have them
The number of workers on zero-hours contracts has increased by a fifth over the past year, official figures show. More than 900,000 people say they work on a zero-hours basis in their main job - up from 747,000 a year ago. It means that almost 3% of British workers are on zero-hours contracts, the Office for National Statistics says. Women make up more than half of those on zero-hours contracts, while one in five of those on the contracts is in full-time education.
Zero-hours contracts have become an easy way for bosses to employ staff on the cheap.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady
Under zero hours contracts workers do not know how many hours they will work from week to week. However, the ONS cautioned that the increase did not necessarily mean the use of such contracts was on the increase but could be because people were more aware of the term. However, TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "There is no getting away from the fact that zero-hours workers earn less money and have fewer rights than people with permanent jobs." A Business Department spokesman insisted: "We want to do more to build an economy that works for everyone and to help working people who are struggling to get by."
While zero-hours can provide some flexibility to workers, they cannot form the basis of the long-term careers many young people crave
Liberal Democrat business spokeswoman Lorely Burt
