One in four offered insecure work

As the government attempts to downplay just how pervasive zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) have become, a new report released today (August 20) has revealed that one in four unemployed adults have been offered these insecure contracts, which guarantee no minimum hours of work.

 
Contradicting government claims that people enjoy the so-called “flexibility” of zero-hours contracts, the survey, conducted by online jobs and recruitment marketplace Glassdoor, found extreme reluctance and distrust of ZHCs, with almost half of people surveyed turning down these contracts after being offered them.

 
The primary reasons for turning down these contracts included the need to have a guaranteed level of income in order to stop receiving benefits and lack of trust towards employers offering ZHCs.

 
Almost 40 per cent of respondents believed that zero-hours contracts should be banned entirely, with 45 per cent saying they thought that the contracts were exploitative.

 
Reasons respondents gave for accepting zero-hours contracts shows top what extent ZHCs are the preserve of desperation – almost 70 per cent said they took on the contract because they needed the money, with 37 per cent saying they felt they had no choice.

 
Also refuting the government’s claim that the dramatic rise in zero-hours contracts can simply be attributed to more people being aware of what a zero-hours contract was, the survey found substantial lack of awareness.

 
A full one in five of those surveyed had no idea what a zero-hours contract was, with this figure rising outside of areas in London. For example, in the Midlands, lack of awareness rose to almost 30 per cent.
Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner condemned the proliferation of zero-hours contracts that have now become the norm in an economy dominated by low pay and insecurity.

 
“Exploitative zero hours contracts have become the employment model of choice for bosses such as Sports Direct which have 75 per cent of its workforce on these contracts,” he said.

 
“These wretched contracts are heavily weighted in favour of the bosses – no one can exist on or plan for the future when they don’t know when, and for long they might be working, from one week to the next. They are grinding down people into economic servitude.

 
“People are being forced to take jobs that don’t offer permanent employment as they fear that Job Centres will strip them of their benefits if they don’t accept these miserable contracts,” Turner went on to say.

 
“These contracts have exploded since theTories came to power in 2010. People need secure and decent jobs, so they can feed their families and have a reasonable standard of living,” he added. “Trade unions can help achieve decent work for all, improving the working lives of millions of people.

 
“The Tories should stop attacking unions and instead they should be outlawing these contracts.”