Zero-Hours Contracts Fall in Scotland – But Rise By 101,000 Across UK

These were the numbers of people in Zero-hours contracts from October – December 2016.    

The SNP has today welcomed new figures showing that Scotland is leading by example in delivering fair work, and has called on Labour to support full powers over employment laws for the Scottish Parliament.  

The figures obtained by George Adam MSP, provided by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, show that Scotland has a lower proportion of workers on zero-hours contracts than the UK. 

Per cent of people in employment on a zero hours contract

UK                                                          905,000                 2.8

Scotland                                                   57,000                 2.2

As the number of zero-hours contracts in Scotland dropped by 2,000, across the UK it has risen by 101,000 in the past 12 months. 

The SNP back a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts but the power remains reserved, and the UK government has yet to show any willingness to take the action required to deliver job security and fair conditions for all.

Commenting, George Adam MSP said: 

“Zero-hours contracts can and are being used to exploit workers; I have had numerous constituents contacting me about this punitive practice that needs curbed.  

“Employees are too often denied regular or sufficient working hours or penalised for not being available to work. This is a root cause of poverty and has a negative knock-on effect in households and communities across the country. 

“The SNP believes the exploitative use of these contracts - where there is no specific justification for their use or where they are used to deny giving workers the protections they are due - should be banned.

“Every worker should have appropriate rights and protections, including holiday and sick pay. 

“The SNP has consistently argued for the full devolution of employment and equalities law, including minimum wage powers. If the Tories won’t take action at Westminster, we’ll get on with the job in the Scottish Parliament. 

“Labour might talk big about workers’ rights but they helped stop Scotland gaining full powers on employment; they should now welcome these figures and work with the SNP to help deliver stronger workers’ rights and conditions in Scotland and across the UK.” 

About Zero-hours contacts. From RealBusines

The term precarious work is most commonly used to refer to individuals who perform labour without the long-term contracts that characterise 20th century employment. Whether such labour takes the form of fixed-term, agency, or undeclared employment, it’s a fact that today’s economy is increasingly using “exploitative” forms of work.

There is no better example of this tendency than the disclosures of Sports Direct and McDonald’s widespread use of zero-hour contracts. The year 2013 also famously saw the University of Liverpool propose to fire its then 3,000 strong workforce and re-employ them on flexible contracts.

In the UK, companies used to tie an individual to the business under an “exclusivity” clause. However, thanks to Vince Cable and the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act, such clauses have been banned from zero-hours contracts.

Further changing the laws, the UK government made it possible for staff to utilise a flexible employment agreement, whereby they can now work for more than one company without being disciplined or fired.