Rise in zero-hours workers

THE number of workers on zero-hours contracts rose by a fifth over the past year, figures revealed yesterday.

Some 903,000 people say they work on a zero-hours basis in their main job – up from 747,000 a year ago.

The TUC’s Frances O’Grady said the contracts – under which workers do not know how many hours they will work from week to week – have become an ‘easy way to employ staff on the cheap’. The Office for National Statistics said the increase could be down to more workers being aware they are on the contracts due to growing publicity.

TUC figures showed the typical zerohours worker earns £7.25 an hour, compared with £11.05 for all employees.