The charity Young Women’s Trust is issuing a stark warning of continued exploitation and financial insecurity for workers after plans to ban zero hour contracts look set to be watered down, dashing young women’s hopes of stronger workplace rights.
An amendment to the Employment Rights Bill from the House of Lords now says that workers on zero hours contracts will have to request guaranteed hours – instead of it being the responsibility of the employer to offer it.
Research from the charity shows that passing the responsibility to workers is likely to mean that many will miss out on their promised rights. Nearly half (45%) of young women – who are disproportionately likely to be on zero hours contracts – said that they have already put up with unfair treatment whilst working in insecure work because they were worried about not getting the hours they needed if they challenged iti.
Furthermore, young women don’t know what they’re entitled to in the first place with almost half (48%) of those in insecure jobs saying that they are not aware of their rightsii. This demonstrates a severe lack of much-needed communication and education about worker’s rights, and represents a significant barrier to many workers in accessing their entitlements.
Claire Reindorp, chief executive at Young Women’s Trust, said: “We’re talking about watering down protections for some of our youngest and most poorly-treated workers. The ban on zero hours contracts was a centrepiece of the government’s promise to upgrade worker’s rights – but this amendment risks undermining that by completely shifting the power back to employers. This leaves young women fighting for a right to secure working contracts.
“We know that young women are more likely to be working in insecure work and are already feeling trapped, unable to plan for their futures and scared of speaking up for their rights for fear of losing the shifts they desperately need. We must not squander this opportunity to rebalance power in the workplace and transform the lives of thousands of young women.”
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Notes to editors
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Hayley Richardson-Roberts, Communication Lead:
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About Young Women’s Trust:
Young Women’s Trust champions young women aged 18 to 30 on low or no pay. We’re here to create a more equal world of work and raise young women’s incomes.
We offer young women free coaching, feedback on job applications and information to help them get where they want to be. We bring together a thousands-strong network to support each other, build their self-belief, and have their voices heard. We work with young women and anyone who experiences misogyny and sexism to campaign for equality in the workplace. And our research provides insight into what young women’s lives are really like, fuelling our campaigns for change.
