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- Jo Faragher
The number of people working on zero-hours contracts has risen to more than 200,000 – almost doubling since the middle of last year – according to the Office for National Statistics.
The contracts allow employers to keep workers on ‘stand-by’ without guaranteeing them any regular hours. They can also be used by employers trying to avoid agency workers regulations, which stipulate that agency staff are entitled to the same basic conditions as permanent staff after 12 weeks.
The union UNISON has criticised the rise in the use of these contracts, saying they “present huge drawbacks in comparison to permanent regular work” because they leave workers uncertain about their future and income, and may be more open to abuse.
Employers, on the other hand, argue that the contracts provide flexibility for workers who need to juggle family commitments.
The ONS figures refer to the final three months of 2012, suggesting that the use of these contracts increased during the run-up to Christmas, when there is likely to have been greater demand for casual labour.
The Government statistics back up previous figures from the Government’s 2011 Workplace Employment Relations Study. It found that the proportion of firms with some workers on zero-hours contracts rose from 11% in 2004 to 23% in 2011.
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