Trade unions and employment organisations have condemned it, as well as many
in the Labour Party. Now the the Green Party of England and Wales has called on
the Coalition Government to ban zero-hours contracts.
Two days after it emerged that retailer Sports Direct employs 20,000 staff on zero-hours terms last week, the Guardian newspaper established that Buckingham Palace, the royal family's London residence, hire workers under the controversial employment practice which makes for an insecure and inflexible life for low paid workers.
"That workers in Buckingham Palace, home to some of the most privileged individuals in Britain who are supported by extensive public funding, should be employing workers on zero-hours contracts, committing them to be available to work without guarantee of work, is deeply disturbing,” said Natalie Bennett, the Green Party's leader.
"The Palace should be changing these arrangements immediately and guaranteeing the workers a stable income for the term of their employment." she said.
"Zero-hours contracts put workers in an invidious position, uncertain if they're going to have enough money to pay their rent, the food bills and other essentials," declared Ms Bennett.
She continued: “The ice-cream shop that calls staff in or not on the basis of the next day’s weather forecast might be maximising its profits, but its putting its workers in an impossible situation – and ensuring that the state has to pay corporate welfare to cover the shortfall."
“Zero-hours contracts should be banned, and I'd urge every shopper to consider the list of companies that use them, and consider whether they want to give their shopping cash to them," said the Green Party leader.
Protests against zero-hours contracts outside Sports Direct stores have been taking place this weekend.
Source
Two days after it emerged that retailer Sports Direct employs 20,000 staff on zero-hours terms last week, the Guardian newspaper established that Buckingham Palace, the royal family's London residence, hire workers under the controversial employment practice which makes for an insecure and inflexible life for low paid workers.
"That workers in Buckingham Palace, home to some of the most privileged individuals in Britain who are supported by extensive public funding, should be employing workers on zero-hours contracts, committing them to be available to work without guarantee of work, is deeply disturbing,” said Natalie Bennett, the Green Party's leader.
"The Palace should be changing these arrangements immediately and guaranteeing the workers a stable income for the term of their employment." she said.
"Zero-hours contracts put workers in an invidious position, uncertain if they're going to have enough money to pay their rent, the food bills and other essentials," declared Ms Bennett.
She continued: “The ice-cream shop that calls staff in or not on the basis of the next day’s weather forecast might be maximising its profits, but its putting its workers in an impossible situation – and ensuring that the state has to pay corporate welfare to cover the shortfall."
“Zero-hours contracts should be banned, and I'd urge every shopper to consider the list of companies that use them, and consider whether they want to give their shopping cash to them," said the Green Party leader.
Protests against zero-hours contracts outside Sports Direct stores have been taking place this weekend.
Source
