Zero-hours contracts: Some policy proposals

Professor Keith Ewing, President of the IER and Professor of Public Law at Kings’ College London, provides some innovative policy ideas to reduce the damage caused by zero-hours contracts.

The expert recommends replacing zero-hours contracts with defined-hours contracts that set a minimum number of working hours per week or per month. A percentage of on-call time will also be defined, during which the employee should be paid a retainer of no less than the National Minimum Wage. He also allows rooms for businesses and workers who require even more flexibility by stating that non-defined hours contracts should continue to be permitted, but only where the company in question recognises a trade union, representatives from which then have responsibility to negotiate fair terms for employees.