Unions have highlighted more than one million workers will be working on Christmas Day, many on low wages and unpredictable zero-hour contracts. The TUC has called for the public to think of the 1.1 million people, including care workers and nurses, who'll be serving others during the festive season. The TUC also highlighted a significant number in precarious employment situations, with one in five social care workers on zero-hour contracts.
TUC's general secretary Paul Nowak said: "Christmas Day is a special day that millions of us spend with our nearest and dearest.So we should all spare a thought for the people who will be hard at work keeping the country running. "They will be toiling away while we’re opening our presents, tucking into the turkey and relaxing with our families. Many on duty on Christmas Day will be on low pay and on zero-hours contracts, especially in sectors like social care and hospitality.".
He proposed that the perfect Christmas gift from the government would be the full delivery of its Employment Rights Bill. Ben Harrison from Lancaster University's Work Foundation said: "Most of us are aware that for lots of people, work doesn’t stop for Christmas. But what’s often less well recognised is that many of these workers face insecurity every day of the year, and may not have a choice as to whether they spend the festive period with loved ones or hard at work, keeping the country running.
