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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Zero-hours crackdown plan unveiled by Labour leader | Zero-hours crackdown plan unveiled by Labour leader |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ed Miliband will detail plans to tackle the "epidemic" of zero-hours contracts in a speech in Scotland later. | |
| The Labour leader will say workers with irregular shifts and pay should have rights, including a contract with fixed hours, if they work regularly for the same employer for a year. | |
| Tackling the issue would be "harder" in an independent Scotland, he will say. | Tackling the issue would be "harder" in an independent Scotland, he will say. |
| The government said it was analysing research on zero-hours contracts and would "respond in due course". | The government said it was analysing research on zero-hours contracts and would "respond in due course". |
| Zero-hours contracts allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work, only paying them for whatever hours they work. | Zero-hours contracts allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work, only paying them for whatever hours they work. |
| 'Evidence of abuse' | 'Evidence of abuse' |
| Speaking in Motherwell after a shadow cabinet meeting in Glasgow, Mr Miliband will say: "Zero-hour contracts have spread like an epidemic across our economy. | Speaking in Motherwell after a shadow cabinet meeting in Glasgow, Mr Miliband will say: "Zero-hour contracts have spread like an epidemic across our economy. |
| "The government's own figures say they have increased three-fold since 2010 and some estimates suggest there are one million people on these contracts across the UK including at least 90,000 here in Scotland." | "The government's own figures say they have increased three-fold since 2010 and some estimates suggest there are one million people on these contracts across the UK including at least 90,000 here in Scotland." |
| He will say the contracts can offer "short-term flexibility for employers and employees" but that most employers don't use them because they are "incompatible with building a loyal, skilled and productive workforce". | He will say the contracts can offer "short-term flexibility for employers and employees" but that most employers don't use them because they are "incompatible with building a loyal, skilled and productive workforce". |
| He will add that Labour is determined to ban the "worst abuses of the system". | He will add that Labour is determined to ban the "worst abuses of the system". |
| "It has left too many people not knowing how they will make ends meet from one week to the next, and unable to plan for the future," he will say. | "It has left too many people not knowing how they will make ends meet from one week to the next, and unable to plan for the future," he will say. |
| Under Labour's plans, workers on zero-hours contracts would: | Under Labour's plans, workers on zero-hours contracts would: |
| Mr Miliband will say this can "only be done across the UK", adding: "If Scotland left the UK it would be harder to end the abuse of zero-hours contracts either here or in what is left of the UK." | |
| Labour asked Norman Pickavance, former HR director at supermarket chain Morrisons, to carry out a review into zero-hours contracts, and these plans are based on his recommendations. | Labour asked Norman Pickavance, former HR director at supermarket chain Morrisons, to carry out a review into zero-hours contracts, and these plans are based on his recommendations. |
| Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the party was targeting "exploitative" contracts. | |
| "One man's flexibility is another's insecurity", he said, claiming some workers were "scared out of their wits". | |
| But James Sproule, chief economist for the Institute of Directors, said "flexibility" in the labour market was helping the economy to recover. | |
| "Zero-hours contracts are one small part of a much broader flexible labour market", he said. | |
| Zero-hours review | Zero-hours review |
| A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said zero-hours contracts could offer "welcome flexibility" and the government would not "ban them outright", but there had been "evidence of abuse". | A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said zero-hours contracts could offer "welcome flexibility" and the government would not "ban them outright", but there had been "evidence of abuse". |
| And Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: "We want to strike the right balance between flexibility for the businesses who create jobs and making sure there's adequate protection for employees. That's why we are carrying out a review into zero hours contracts." | And Business Minister Matthew Hancock said: "We want to strike the right balance between flexibility for the businesses who create jobs and making sure there's adequate protection for employees. That's why we are carrying out a review into zero hours contracts." |
| A spokeswoman for Scotland's Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said the Scottish government had already acted on zero-hours contracts within its "limited powers". | A spokeswoman for Scotland's Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said the Scottish government had already acted on zero-hours contracts within its "limited powers". |
| She said Scotland was currently "waiting for Westminster action", but independence would allow a Scottish government to consider "issues such as zero-hours contracts" and "improve employment opportunities". | She said Scotland was currently "waiting for Westminster action", but independence would allow a Scottish government to consider "issues such as zero-hours contracts" and "improve employment opportunities". |
| Are you working on a zero-hours contract? Do you run a business which uses such contracts? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Zero-hours contracts'. | Are you working on a zero-hours contract? Do you run a business which uses such contracts? You can email your experiences to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, using the subject line 'Zero-hours contracts'. |