Mandate Trade Union welcomes investigation into zero hour and low hour contracts
Monday 17 November 2014“Study must be seen as a first step towards tackling insecure work.”
Mandate Trade Union has today (Monday, 17 November) welcomed Minister Ged Nash’s announced investigation into zero hour and low hour contracts, which have grown exponentially in recent years.
Mandate, which represents 45,000 workers in the retail and bar sectors, said that while zero hour contracts are growing, low hour contracts are becoming the norm in many sectors of the economy with very detrimental impacts on workers.
John Douglas, Mandate General Secretary said, “There are thousands of workers in the retail sector alone who experience low hour contracts and are living hand to mouth. We know this type of contract is being used as a control and disciplinary mechanism over workers, with managers allocating hours arbitrarily.
He added, “A worker may be on a 15 hour contract but will regularly work 40 hours a week. If the worker makes a complaint or steps out of line, their employer can cut them down to the bare minimum removing their ability to earn a living and pay their bills. This is completely unacceptable and must be tackled.”
He added, “While this investigation into zero hour and low hour contracts is to be welcomed, it has to be in the context that it’s a first step. We need to expand the parameters of the investigation beyond the eight hours and legislate to ensure workers are protected from unscrupulous employers under the false premise of ‘flexibility’. We have thousands of members on 15 hour contracts who would deem themselves in precarious contracts of employment, experiencing huge insecurity in relation to their earnings.”
Mr Douglas said Mandate Trade Union is looking forward to engaging in the study on behalf of its 45,000 members.
