ZERO HOURS JUSTICE BACKS CALL FOR a LIVING WAGE PAY RISE fOR KEY WORKERS

By Pravin Jeyaraj

Many key workers on zero hours contracts are not earning enough to cover the cost of living, despite being on the front line against Covid-19. 

According to research published by the Trade Union Congress (TUC), 3.2 million key workers are paid less than £10 an hour, including 75% of retail workers, 62% of carers and 69% of teaching assistants.

Many of these key workers will be on precarious zero hours contracts. According to the latest ONS figures, 10% of workers in the wholesale and retail sector are on zero hours contracts, 9.8% of workers in education are on zero hours contracts and almost 20% of workers in health and social care are on zero hours contracts. In fact, the increase in zero hours contracts to over 1 million at the height of the pandemic was powered in large part by employment in industry sectors that were on the frontline against Covid-19.

Given the contribution of key workers during the pandemic and throughout lockdown and local restriction, we agree with the TUC that they deserve a "decent" pay rise. This is even more important for those key workers who are on insecure zero hours contracts. The precariousness of their work and income should at least be balanced, even in part, by a wage the covers the actual cost of living.

From 1 April 2021, the minimum wage for those aged 25 and over will be £8.91. By comparison, the real Living Wage is £10.85 for those in Greater London and £9.50 for those outside.