A coalition of union figureheads, campaigners and businesspeople have come together to launch ‘Zero Hours Justice’ – a campaign to end the use of zero hours’ contracts in the UK.

The campaign is being led by prominent workers’ rights campaigner Ian Hodson, president, alongside support from campaign funder Julian Richer, Thompsons Solicitors and the TUC.

Zero hours’ contracts aren’t a necessary tool for efficient modern businesses, they are archaic and deprive people of dignity and their basic rights.

Rakesh Patel of Thompsons Solicitors

Zero Hours Justice aims to:

  • Inform the public of the stress and pressures that zero hours’ contracts cause;
  • Provide legal advice clinics – organised by qualified solicitors – for those affected;
  • Take relevant cases to court in a bid to change the law on zero hours’ contracts;
  • Name and shame those employers who use zero hours’ contracts;
  • Remind employers of the value of good working practices for staff and the organisation.

The campaign says the UK is one of just six out of 28 EU countries that enforce zero hours’ contracts. The number of people employed on zero hours’ contracts has increased more than four-fold over the last 20 years, now at almost 900,000.

Julian Richer commented: “This is an apolitical campaign for those who want a better society. We want our campaign to be a coming together of interested parties to end the awful practice of zero hours’ contracts. As an employer, I care passionately about my colleagues. I can’t imagine anything more likely to cause misery than not knowing day-to-day whether they will have enough money for food or rent. Maybe such contracts can work for a small minority of workers who have other significant household incomes or for students with wealthy parents, but for the vast majority this evil way of exploiting people at work must be banned – as indeed they are in the great majority of European countries. If we can’t give working people basic security, we should be ashamed.”  

Ian Hodson added: “Those on zero hours’ contracts are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. Many of them feel powerless to complain, even if they suffer serious problems at work like bullying and sexual harassment. The response from managers can be threats to cut their hours of work. But they simply can’t afford to lose any pay, so what can they do?

“Nobody should have to live like that in 21st Century Britain. Every job should give people the basic security they need to live a decent life.”

Rakesh Patel, head of employment rights strategy at Thompsons Solicitors, added: “Many hard-working people on zero hours’ contracts will have found themselves unemployed with little to no notice after the Christmas period. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands more will have to survive 2020 on a knife edge, not knowing if they will have regular work from week-to-week.

“Zero hours’ contracts aren’t a necessary tool for efficient modern businesses, they are archaic and deprive people of dignity and their basic rights. We are proud to lend our legal expertise to this campaign and ensure that zero hours’ work joins other outdated working practices.”

Visit the Zero Hours Justice website for more information