At least a million people in Britain are working on zero-hours contracts, and a significant number have been doing so for decades, and that too with the same employer. This is alarming and a cause of concern.
The Trade Unions Congress (TUC), which represents unions across the UK, has reportedly revealed that one in 12 British workers have been with the same employer for more than a decade on zero-hours contracts, while almost 50 per cent of them have been with the same employer for over two years.
Data reportedly shows that most (7.2 lakh) zero-hours contract workers have served their employer for over a year, while one in eight have been denied regular employment rights even after a decade of working for the same employer. Even after working for a decade with the same employer, about 1.3 lakh workers were on zero-hours contracts.
Clearly, workers are insecure, which is hampering economic growth, feel union leaders. Not only do zero-hours workers earn less than their regular counterparts but their employers have almost complete control of their power to earn and their hours of work.
That is why the Employment Rights Bill seems to be the need of the hour. This bill, which was introduced about five months ago, will be able to provide zero-hours contract workers the right to a guaranteed contract if they are putting the same number of hours for a considerable period of time. With their rights strengthened, the labour market will become stronger, resulting in improved productivity and demand. The bill however, is a long way from being made into a law.
