Zero hours contracts

Motion Text

That this House notes the data released by The Office for National Statistics that shows that 1.1 million UK workers are employed on zero hours contracts, a ten fold increase since 2004; understands that in England 3.5 percent of those in work, have no set hours, meaning they are often unaware of how many shifts they will work each week or what they will be paid, this includes 33,000 workers in the North East; notes that the comparative figures for the rest of the UK are Northern Ireland 1.3 per cent, Wales 2.8 per cent and Scotland 3.9 per cent; believes that sectors such as food and accommodation, health and social care and elementary occupations use zero hours contracts the most and that young people, especially those working and in full time education and workers born outside of the UK are disproportionately affected by this form of precarious employment; and calls on the UK and devolved Governments, public bodies and businesses to take action to end the use of zero hours contracts across the economy.