QUEEN's SPEECH LEAVES ZERO HOUR CONTRACT WORKERS OUT IN THE COLD

By Pravin Jeyaraj

In December 2019, the Queen's Speech included a proposal of a right for zero hour workers to a more predictable contract. The Government had just won a huge parliamentary majority that had seen them take many, traditionally Labour-voting seats  on a promise of "levelling up". 

​Fast forward almost 18 months...the Government has just seen more successes in the recent local elections again on the promise on "levelling up". Yet, in the  Queen's Speech, there was no mention the employment bill, including the right for zero hours workers to a more, predictable contract.

According to Prime Minister's spokesman, the Government is still committed to introducing the right to a predictable contract when the time is right.​

Zero Hours Justice would argue that the right time is now, as we emerge from a pandemic that has had a devastating effect on work and income of those on zero hours contracts.

For the past year or so, we have been contacted by many zero hours workers, who have ended up working predictable hours or employment patterns over many years, whilst  being on a contract that does not guarantee these hours. They have seen their work disappear overnight, not been furloughed or been taken off furlough without the prospect of work and even made redundant without redundancy pay.  

Distribution of Zero Hours Justice cases, by industry sector, in last 18 months

Indeed, according to the latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics, a third of all zero hours workers are actually working full-time and the 62% who are working part-time end up working an average of almost 25 hours a week.

"Levelling up" should not just about spending more on infrastructure outside of London and the South-East. It should be about making sure that all workers have the security of work and income that will allow them to spend. If zero hours workers are working predictable hours and have come to expect that, they really should be on a permanent contract and have the rights that come with it.