The Workers Union is backing working people by calling for zero hours contracts to be abolished.
The news comes as takeaway delivery giants Just Eat announced its intention to hire staff in its French operation on permanent contracts. The deal will include holiday pay, pension payments and payment by the hour rather than the job.
Just Eat’s decision comes hot on the heels of changes in its relationship with UK workers. At the end of last year, company chiefs announced that couriers would be paid by the hour. This will mean they are subject to the terms of the national minimum wage which mandates that workers over 25 years of age must receive at least £8.72 an hour.
The company said that they would also pay pension contributions, sick pay, maternity pay and holiday pay.
Figures compiled by the ONS revealed that over 1 million people were on zero hours contracts in June last year.
The Workers Union on Zero Hours Contracts
We’re heartened that Just Eat have taken this decision and would like to applaud them for doing so.
But this doesn’t alter our belief that the government needs to do more to tackle the problem of low-paid, insecure work. We hear a lot from ministers about the need for more jobs. Such intentions are usually wrapped in the blandishments of political-speak and rely on the assumption that unbridled economic growth is always good. Yes we need growth and yes we need more jobs. But it’s the quality of those jobs that has to be foremost in our thinking.
People need dignity at work. That’s not just about freedom from bullying and intimidation. It’s also about making sure that they are paid well and have a decent package of benefits. In failing to offer this to everybody, we expose a double-standard in our society that says working people have no right to anything except what is decided for them by the rich and powerful.
The Workers Union – Fighting for social justice, fighting for you
