GMB union has criticised the Government after new
figures released today showed the number of zero hours contracts
creeping up to 2 million.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS)
this morning show the number of zero hours contracts estimated to
be in circulation in the economy rose to 1.8 million in November
2017 - up from 1.7 million a year before. [1]
The confidence intervals in the figures means the
number could be as high as 2 million.
Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary,
said:
“These scandalous figures show ’s out-of-touch government is
completely and utterly failing to tackle insecure
work.
“The number of zero hours contracts should be falling
but they are in fact on the rise.
“This should be a wake up call to the
Government.
“How can you plan your life, pay the bills or feed
your family when you are trapped on a zero hours contract?
“Insecure work burdens people and families with
stress. If Ministers really wants to tackle the mental health
crisis they should be looking at the world of work and the
consequences of their political inaction.
“Zero hours contracts harm workers and weaken our
whole economy by taking away the incentive to invest in skills or
development.
“We need a Government that is committed to making
work more secure and dignified by tackling zero hours contracts
once and for all."
ENDS
Notes to editors:
[1] https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/earningsandworkinghours/articles/contractsthatdonotguaranteeaminimumnumberofhours/april2018
