Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Who does Zero Hours Contracts benefit? | |
Posted by: | Paul Corcoran | |
Date/Time: | 19/03/15 11:07:00 |
Zero hours contracts or casual labour has effectively existed for ever it has just become a thing in recent years because Labour in opposition needed to explain away the rise in employment. They argued that the jobs created were very low quality because they included many which they defined as zero hours contracts which they implied were invariably exploitative. This rather backfired when it was revealed that the public sector made widespread use of them including Labour controlled local authorities. When it was looked at in detail it became pretty apparent that most of these contracts weren't really exploitative at all - for instance tutors on adult education courses were generally paid this way. It would make no sense for anybody if they were on a fixed hours contract because sometimes courses don't get enough people to be run. The reality is that a significant proportion of people on zero hours contracts are young people who like the freedom that they give - all the major restaurant, pub and cinema chains using them as well as quite a few retailers with Sports Direct being one of the countries biggest employers on this basis. Apparently the pay is terrible but the staff discount make it an attractive job for some. It is probably true that some people on zero hours contracts would prefer a 9-5 job with a guaranteed weekly income but all the indications are that most people would chose this kind of working arrangement which gives them as well as the employer flexibility. Making a casual contract between employer and employee illegal would be an act of gross stupidity which I don't think even the far left parties are advocating at this election, let alone Labour. |