A new report from the TUC Rights, International, Social and Economics Department finds that 3.7 million people in the UK are in insecure work due to being among the ranks of the low-paid self-employed, agency, casual and seasonal workers, or on zero-hours contracts. This is one in nine of the workforce.
Insecure work is widespread in certain occupations, notably caring and leisure, the skilled trades and elementary roles such as kitchen assistants and security guards. But it has a profound effect on the workers involved who often have no idea what hours they are going to work or how they will pay their bills.
Despite this, there has been little decisive action against insecure work. What is required is a significant shift in workplace rights to ensure that all that all workers have a decent floor of rights and can benefit from the protection of a union.
- kfalcon@napo.org.uk's blog
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