Member

In terms of where that limit might be set, I heard the Minister in Committee when she said she thought four hours was not enough. Amendment 2 therefore proposes eight hours as a ceiling for low-hours contracts. I believe that eight hours is the right number for two reasons. First, as an annual cost of over £5,000, it is more than enough to deter employers from using these contracts as zero-hours contracts by proxy and disguising a zero-hours contract. To that extent, it achieves the ostensible purpose of this section of the Bill. Secondly, at £5,000 a year, it is enough to represent a meaningful and valuable source of income as a household supplement to those who cannot or do not wish to commit to more hours of work in the working week. It is a real asset for people, particularly students and parents with school-age children.