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Zero-Hours Contracts Jump 19% In A Year

The number of UK workers on controversial zero-hours contracts has risen 19% in a year to 744,000.

The revelation, from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), prompted a fierce response from unions, which have campaigned to have them banned.

The contracts give no guarantee of weekly working hours and are said to offer flexibility to employers and employees.

But income levels for workers can fluctuate wildly and on some occasions, staff on zero-hours contracts have reported that they are only told whether they need to come into work just hours before the beginning of each shift.

The ONS said its Labour Force Survey showed that 2.4% of the UK workforce between April and June reported that their main job came under a zero-hours contract.

The statistical body added that its figures may be skewed because more people now understood the term "zero-hours".

Those on such contracts were more likely to be women, in full-time education or in young or older age groups when compared with other people in employment, the ONS said.

It reported average working hours of 25 hours a week and said that around 40% of people on a zero-hours contract wanted more hours - the majority in their current job.

It was estimated, following a wider survey of businesses, that 1.5 million zero-hours contracts exist, indicating that many of those employed via such an arrangement had second jobs.

Separate research by the TUC released following the ONS figures suggested average weekly earnings of £133 for zero-hours staff.

The union organisation's general secretary Frances O’Grady said: "Zero-hours contracts are a stark reminder of Britain's two-tier workforce.

"People employed on these contracts earn £300 a week less, on average, than workers in secure jobs.

"I challenge any minister or business leader to survive on a low-paid zero-hours contract job, not knowing from one day to the next how much work they will have."

The Government has defended zero-hours contracts in the past, suggesting they be named "flexible" contracts instead .

While it has acted to outlaw employers demanding their zero-hours staff do not work elsewhere, it has refused to go further.

The Department for Business said: "Zero-hours contracts have a part to play in a modern, flexible labour market.

"For workers such as students and those with caring responsibilities they provide a pathway to employment, particularly when the individual cannot commit to regular hours."