Reblogged
from Dame Anne Begg MP:
Families in Aberdeen South and across the
country are facing the greatest cost of living crisis in a generation. Prices
are increasing, wages are falling and for many hard-working people there is
rising insecurity in the workplace.
One of the worst examples of this is the exploitive use of zero-hours
contracts. I know that many people in Aberdeen South are employed on zero-hours
contracts and they and their families face a real struggle on a daily basis.
According to recent estimates there could be as many as 1 million workers
employed on zero-hours contracts – with a big increase since the Tory-led
government took office – and they are now used in one in five workplaces.
The Tory-led government has failed to act on zero-hours contracts. It emerged
that a ‘review’ of the issue initiated by Business Secretary Vince Cable earlier
this year consisted of three officials spending part of their time “speaking
informally” with stakeholders.
Zero-hours contracts mean insecurity and stress for too many families in
Aberdeen South. We can’t let this continue, which is why I voted on Wednesday
for an end to their exploitive use and for action to stop rising insecurity at
work.
The Tory-led government has failed to act. According to recent estimates
there could be as many as 1 million workers employed on zero-hours contracts –
with a spike since the Tory-led government took office – and they are now used
in one in five workplaces.
A Labour Government would ban employers from insisting zero-hours workers be
available even when there is no guarantee of any work, stop zero-hours contracts
that require workers to work exclusively for one business and end the misuse of
zero-hours contracts where employees are in practice working regular hours over
a sustained period.
Both employers and employees need flexibility but this shouldn’t mean people
in Aberdeen South lacking job security and having to be flexible about whether
or not they can afford the weekly shop. We’ve got to put a stop to it and that
is what Labour is determined to do.
Hard-working people should feel confident and secure at work; ending the
exploitive use of zero-hours contracts is an integral part of achieving
this.
