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19 per cent rise in people on zero hours contracts recorded across Britain over the last year 19 per cent rise in people on zero hours contracts recorded across Britain over the last year
(about 9 hours later)
The number of people on zero hours contracts recorded by official statistics has sharply increased in the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.The number of people on zero hours contracts recorded by official statistics has sharply increased in the last year, according to the Office for National Statistics.
There were 744,000 people working in contracts that do not guarantee a minimum number of hours between April to June 2015, the ONS said.There were 744,000 people working in contracts that do not guarantee a minimum number of hours between April to June 2015, the ONS said.
This amounts to 2.4 per cent of people in employment, or approximately one-in-forty people with a job.This amounts to 2.4 per cent of people in employment, or approximately one-in-forty people with a job.
The figures posted a substantial rise from the same period last year when 624,000 or 2.0 per cent of people in employment were recorded as being on a zero-hours contract.The figures posted a substantial rise from the same period last year when 624,000 or 2.0 per cent of people in employment were recorded as being on a zero-hours contract.
The year-on-year increase is roughly 19.2 per cent.The year-on-year increase is roughly 19.2 per cent.
The ONS however warned that part of the rise could be due to increased recognition of the term “zero hours contract”.The ONS however warned that part of the rise could be due to increased recognition of the term “zero hours contract”.
“It is not possible to say how much of this increase is due to greater recognition of the term ‘zero hours contracts’ rather than new contracts,” the organisation explained in the summary to its statistical release.“It is not possible to say how much of this increase is due to greater recognition of the term ‘zero hours contracts’ rather than new contracts,” the organisation explained in the summary to its statistical release.
Iain Duncan Smith, the DWP secretary The Government has defended zero hours contracts, with welfare secretary Iain Duncan Smith arguing in their favour.Iain Duncan Smith, the DWP secretary The Government has defended zero hours contracts, with welfare secretary Iain Duncan Smith arguing in their favour.
“Zero hour contracts are badly named – I don’t know whoever came up with that idea, they should be named the flexible hours contracts,” he told Sky News in April.“Zero hour contracts are badly named – I don’t know whoever came up with that idea, they should be named the flexible hours contracts,” he told Sky News in April.
He added that the contracts help people strike a good “work-life balance”.He added that the contracts help people strike a good “work-life balance”.
Critics say the contracts allow employers to exploit workers and mean that people cannot rely on receiving enough wages to pay the bills despite needing to be constantly available for work.Critics say the contracts allow employers to exploit workers and mean that people cannot rely on receiving enough wages to pay the bills despite needing to be constantly available for work.
 
At the last election Labour said it would give zero-hours employees the power to ask for a full contract if they worked regular hours for three months.At the last election Labour said it would give zero-hours employees the power to ask for a full contract if they worked regular hours for three months.
The Green Party says it wants to emulate the German contract system where a quarter of the hours in a contract can be flexible but that employers have to give workers a base number of hours.The Green Party says it wants to emulate the German contract system where a quarter of the hours in a contract can be flexible but that employers have to give workers a base number of hours.
The Coalition government removed employers’ ability to include “exclusivity clauses” in zero hours contract, though in practice anyone on a contract can still be refused work for any reason.The Coalition government removed employers’ ability to include “exclusivity clauses” in zero hours contract, though in practice anyone on a contract can still be refused work for any reason.
The Trades Union Congress estimates that average weekly earnings for zero-hours workers are just £188, compared to £479 for permanent workers.The Trades Union Congress estimates that average weekly earnings for zero-hours workers are just £188, compared to £479 for permanent workers.
39 per cent of zero-hours workers earn less than £111 a week – the qualifying threshold for statutory sick pay – compared to just 8 per cent of permanent employees.39 per cent of zero-hours workers earn less than £111 a week – the qualifying threshold for statutory sick pay – compared to just 8 per cent of permanent employees.
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said zero-hours contracts are "a stark reminder of Britain’s two-tier workforce".Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said zero-hours contracts are "a stark reminder of Britain’s two-tier workforce".
“People employed on these contracts earn £300 a week less, on average, than workers in secure jobs," she said.“People employed on these contracts earn £300 a week less, on average, than workers in secure jobs," she said.
“I challenge any minister or business leader to survive on a low-paid zero-hours contract job, not knowing from one day to the next how much work they will have.“I challenge any minister or business leader to survive on a low-paid zero-hours contract job, not knowing from one day to the next how much work they will have.
“Try telling zero-hours workers who have been turned down by mortgage lenders and landlords that they are getting a good deal. We need a stronger and fairer recovery that works for everyone, not one that forces people to survive off scraps of work.”“Try telling zero-hours workers who have been turned down by mortgage lenders and landlords that they are getting a good deal. We need a stronger and fairer recovery that works for everyone, not one that forces people to survive off scraps of work.”
  The ONS calculates that two-thirds of those on zero hours would work more hours if they could. Mark Littlewood, of the Institute of Economic Affairs free-market think tank, said: “Far from being a result of unscrupulous employers trying to exploit their staff, today’s reported increase illustrates the flexible nature of the UK’s labour market.”
James Sproule, of the Institute of Directors, said: “Zero-hours contracts offer businesses and employees an important degree of flexibility. For skilled professionals, a degree of flexibility can boost their earning power, while flexibility also suits students and older people who cannot commit to a set number of hours each and every week. Flexible working arrangements helped preserve jobs during the downturn.”
He also suggested that zero-hours contracts may not actually be on the increase to the extent that the figures suggest, but that the numbers are going up because people who did not previously know what a zero-hours contract is have now found and discovered that they are on one.
Conner Green-Edwards, 21, from Ipswich, has worked at Subway and for a nightclub on zero-hours contracts
We’re told students enjoy the flexibility of zero-hours contracts but I didn’t enjoy it at all – it’s zero hours and zero rights.
I’d have no work for two weeks and then get told at the last minute: “We need you tomorrow morning.”
At the start of the year they wanted me to work every day, when I had to be at college too. One day I went in to get my pay and they said: “We don’t need you anymore, give us a call in three weeks.” You work as much as a full-time person and then they forget about you. I left Subway and got the new job at a nightclub. There’s so much instability – one week I’m getting £80 and the next £20.
If they ask you to work for a day, they can send you home after a couple of hours. Sometimes it would be a very quiet night in the club and they just said to go home. It wasn’t ideal. It messes with your sleeping pattern and you end up with £12 for it.
Zero-hours contracts should be completely abolished. We’re making it an employers’ market. I’m lucky I had an out: I’m going to university. For other people this is how they earn a living.