SCOTLAND has become “embedded” as the zero-hours contract nation of the UK and the case for Holyrood having power over employment law is now “unanswerable”, union leaders say.
The number of zero-hours contracts in use north of the Border has increased from 105,000 to 109,000 in the quarter between April to June, according to the latest Labour Force survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Scotland leads the way in the UK for use of these contracts, with 4.1% of workers employed on them, compared to 3.6% in England, 3.2% in Wales and 1.5% in Northern Ireland.
The data shows across the UK there has been an increase in the use of zero hours contracts within hospitality at 28.5% and education at 10.5%, while significant numbers of workers in caring, leisure and services are also on the contracts at 19.5%.
READ MORE: Scotland has highest percentage of zero-hours workers in UK, finds ONS
STUC general secretary Roz Foyer said: “It’s a scourge on our society that precarious zero-hours contracts continue to be on the rise in Scotland.
“This is a record our nation doesn’t need nor should want. There is nothing to celebrate or to be proud of when workers have their agency stripped of them and power handed to employers.
“We have seen some stunning successes of organised, unionised precarious workers fighting and winning improved terms and conditions within their workplace. That fight continues.”
She added: “Whilst the Scottish Government must do all it can with the...
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