The Work Foundation calls for ‘more systematic’ review of zero hours
28 August 2013
The director of labour market research body The Work Foundation has urged a “far more systematic” investigation into the scope and nature of zero-hours contracts in the UK, branding the government’s informal investigations on the topic “inadequate”.
Wed, 28 Aug 2013The director of labour market research body The Work Foundation has urged a “far more systematic” investigation into the scope and nature of zero-hours contracts in the UK, branding the government’s informal investigations on the topic “inadequate”.
In June, business secretary Vince Cable said he had asked his officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to “undertake some work to better understand how this type of contract is working in practice today”, with possible next steps or further action to be announced at some point in the autumn.
After debate and public and media concern over zero hours reached boiling point through the summer months, a BIS spokesperson confirms to recruiter.co.uk today that this rough timetable remains the same and that nothing has changed in the department’s work.
The Work Foundation’s Ian Brinkley comments: “A fuller investigation would enable accurate analysis, and such data would help devise effective policy measures and map out best employer practice to protect workers most vulnerable to potential abuse.”
He notes that there are “vast numbers of workers who are unaware they are on zero hours contracts”, and that little is known about the spread and nature of these contracts or “the true reasons why employers are making more use of them”, some of which is explored in a new report ‘Flexibility or insecurity? Exploring the rise in zero-hours contracts’ authored by Brinkley, released today.
The call for such an investigation comes after research from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK could number 1m, much higher than the 200,000 estimated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier this year, which had already been called into question. The ONS has since announced that it will revise its methodology.
One thing appears certain – there is unlikely to be any serious call for an outright ban of the contracts, something the Trades Union Congress ruled out at an event hosted by The Work Foundation and attended by Recruiter last month. Brinkley is among several parties agreeing that this would be unnecessary.
The topic is likely to be discussed in parliament next week, with Labour’s shadow business secretary hoping to hold a debate on the matter at the first available Opposition Day after the House of Commons returns to sit after the summer recess.
A press officer for the Commons confirms to recruiter.co.uk that this Opposition Day will still take place next Wednesday (4 September), despite the unscheduled early return to parliament announced by the prime minister in light of the Syrian crisis.
In June, business secretary Vince Cable said he had asked his officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) to “undertake some work to better understand how this type of contract is working in practice today”, with possible next steps or further action to be announced at some point in the autumn.
After debate and public and media concern over zero hours reached boiling point through the summer months, a BIS spokesperson confirms to recruiter.co.uk today that this rough timetable remains the same and that nothing has changed in the department’s work.
The Work Foundation’s Ian Brinkley comments: “A fuller investigation would enable accurate analysis, and such data would help devise effective policy measures and map out best employer practice to protect workers most vulnerable to potential abuse.”
He notes that there are “vast numbers of workers who are unaware they are on zero hours contracts”, and that little is known about the spread and nature of these contracts or “the true reasons why employers are making more use of them”, some of which is explored in a new report ‘Flexibility or insecurity? Exploring the rise in zero-hours contracts’ authored by Brinkley, released today.
The call for such an investigation comes after research from the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) showed that the number of zero-hours contracts in the UK could number 1m, much higher than the 200,000 estimated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) earlier this year, which had already been called into question. The ONS has since announced that it will revise its methodology.
One thing appears certain – there is unlikely to be any serious call for an outright ban of the contracts, something the Trades Union Congress ruled out at an event hosted by The Work Foundation and attended by Recruiter last month. Brinkley is among several parties agreeing that this would be unnecessary.
The topic is likely to be discussed in parliament next week, with Labour’s shadow business secretary hoping to hold a debate on the matter at the first available Opposition Day after the House of Commons returns to sit after the summer recess.
A press officer for the Commons confirms to recruiter.co.uk that this Opposition Day will still take place next Wednesday (4 September), despite the unscheduled early return to parliament announced by the prime minister in light of the Syrian crisis.
