Zero-Hours Contracts

Decent Work Day Glenis Willmott, our Euro MP here in the East Midlands, used Decent Work Day - a date unaccountably missed by the British media - to highlight the continuing problem of zero-hours contracts in the UK. 

There are currently 65, 000 of these contracts in the East Midlands which means that thousands of people are unable to get a mortgage due to having no financial security. I want to see abusive zero-hours contracts banned. It is completely unfair that some employees don't know how much they will get from week to week - they don't have zero rent, they still have to put food on the table for their kids. People cannot be expected to put their life on hold in the off-chance they are offered work, which they desperately need. 

Recently I called on the European Commission and national governments to take action on zero-hours contracts. With the Tories in power, workers can't expect much support from the UK Government. Labour MEPs have taken the issue straight to EU leaders. I believe that if you work regular hours, you should have a regular contract, and that is why I am working to end exploitative zero-hours contracts across the EU.

Labour pledge to reform zero-hour contracts

One of the ways the Coalition massage unemployment figures is by encouraging zero-hour contracts, which by definition offer no guarantee of work or income. 

There may be some advantages to these contracts - for example seasonal work or where it suits the worker - but the lack of regulation leaves the door wide open to abuse.

The next Labour Government will give new rights to people with zero-hour contracts:

• to demand a fixed hours contract when they have worked regular hours over six months with the same employer
• to receive a fixed hours contract automatically when they have worked regular hours over a year (unless they choose to opt out)
• to be protected from employers forcing them to be available at all hours, insisting they cannot work for anyone else, or cancelling shifts at short notice without compensation

This announcement underlines Labour's commitment to improve living standards and help businesses build a more productive, successful economy across the UK.