Half a million on zero hours
New figures have shown that 582,935 workers were on zero-hours contracts in 2013 — more than double the government’s own estimate. The upward revision comes after a change in how the Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates its figures, as it emerged that many employers were not reporting the use of the contracts. Zero-hours contracts guarantee workers no minimum hours or benefits, effectively placing them “on call” when their employer needs them. Often thought to be a marginal element of the labour market restricted to hotels, catering and similar sectors, zero-hours contracts are in...