Hundreds of thousands of workers trapped on zero hours contracts for years - TUC
Hundreds of thousands of workers trapped on zero hours contracts for years - TUC
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Hundreds of thousands of zero-hours workers are trapped in their contracts for years, with new research indicating that one in 12 has been with the same employer for over a decade, while nearly half have stayed in the same job for more than two years. The TUC has highlighted this issue, stating that the Employment Rights Bill is crucial to address the insecurity in the workforce and provide the economic reset that workers "desperately" need. Previous TUC polls revealed that the majority of zero-hours contract workers are 'desperate' for regular working hours.
An analysis of official data reveals that there are over a million workers on zero-hours contracts, leading the TUC to sound the alarm about an "insecure work epidemic". TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: "Zero-hours contracts give bosses almost total control of workers’ earning power and hours, making it a nightmare for families to plan budgets and childcare. "As we have seen with recent scandals, these precarious contracts make it far too easy for managers to bully and harass staff frightened about losing shifts. I would challenge any boss to try and survive for a few months on a zero-hours contract, not knowing from week to week how much work they will have – let alone a decade.
