Zero hour contracts are only part of the problem with precarious employment and irregular work patterns
Need to widen the scope of consultation to other workers who are also being abused and are being employed on hours below the perceived norm for part time workers says GMB
GMB responded to the announcement that Ministers are to consider outlawing exclusivity on zero hours contracts. See notes to editors for copy of Department for Business, Innovation and Skills press releases of 19th December 2013.
Mick Rix, GMB National Officer, said “This snails-pace reaction to what is clearly an urgent problem will not bring any Christmas cheer to exploited low paid workers on zero hour contracts and similar contracts offering employment insecurity.
GMB will take part in this consultation. However it is regrettable that the Government is not outlawing the use of zero hour contracts. The government admits that there is abuse of zero hour contracts.
However zero hour contracts are only part of the problem with today's precarious employment and irregular work patterns. GMB call on government to widen the scope of its consultation to take into account other workers who are also being abused and are being employed on hours below the perceived norm for part time workers.
There is also a growing contingent of workers, on temporary contracts and as agency staff working at the same place of work for years, who do not have a permanent contract or proper hours of work.
Work should pay. However we are seeing is a race to the bottom for many employees in a number of companies such as Amazon and Next.”
