STUC on rise in zero-hour contracts

September 2nd 2015

STUC on rise in zero-hour contracts

September 2nd 2015

Responding to new official statistics published today confirming that the number of people employed on zero-hours contracts increased by 19% in the year to June 2015, Grahame Smith, Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) General Secretary said:

“The growing prevalence of insecure employment is laid bare by the statistics published today which show a massive 19% increase in the number of people employed on a zero-hours contract in the last year alone.

“It really is time for politicians at all levels to quit trumpeting ‘record employment levels’ and actually start interrogating what is happening in the labour market. There has been a discernible increase in low wage, precarious employment over the last decade. The consequent impact on poverty, inequality and wellbeing has been severe.

“Some may find it mildly encouraging that the rate of zero-hours employment is lower in Scotland than for other nations and regions of the UK but what really matters is the rate of increase. There is no room whatsoever for complacency”.

ENDS

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