Zero hours Scotland branded “worst in UK” as contracts jump by 30%
Scotland holds the “shameful” title as the zero hours contract nation of the UK as new labour market data revealed a 30% rise in zero hours contract use over the last quarter.
Using Labour Market data from the Office of National Statistics, more than 102,000 workers were on zero-hour contracts in the last three months, the joint highest proportion throughout the UK.
With 3.8% of Scotland’s workforce on a zero hours contract, outstripping the 3.4% UK average, the STUC has warned that new UK Government Employment Rights Bill must be enacted swiftly and without loopholes to avoid “letting Scotland’s workers down”
The Labour Market data also reveals that although unemployment remains low, economic inactivity remains high. The STUC has called for interest rates to be reduced more swiftly to support sustainable business growth. The trade union body further reiterated their call to devolve employment law to the Scottish Parliament.
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:
“Scotland continues to bear the shameful mark as the zero hours nation of the UK as we witness an eye-watering and utterly inexcusable 30% increase in workers being subjected to one over the last quarter.
“There is a clear power imbalance within the workplace. Zero hours contracts do little more than strip workers of their agency and hand employers, especially rogue, unscrupulous bosses, the power to determine whether a worker can pay their rent or foot their bills come the end of the month.
“The Employment Rights Bill from the UK Government is a start but all loopholes on all zero hours contracts must be closed and an outright ban put in place. Otherwise, it will be letting Scotland’s workers down. The case for employment law to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament still remains unanswerable as we seek to enhance and improve our working rights, banning zero hours contracts entirely and seeking to boost pay, terms and conditions for all workers in Scotland.
“We also need the Bank of England to act far more decisively. Cutting interest rates more swiftly remains key if we are to tackle economic inactivity, which remains stubbornly high and sustainably grow our economy for workers and business alike.
END
Notes to editors:
Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 12 November 2024, https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/datasets/emp17peopleinemploymentonzerohourscontracts/current
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