WALES FACING ‘EPIDEMIC OF PRECARIOUS WORK’, GMB REVEALS

Number of zero hour and agency contracted workers has almost doubled in Wales since 2011 to 78,000, new research from GMB union reveals
New research from GMB, the union for gig economy workers, has revealed that the number of zero and agency contracted workers has more than doubled in Wales since 2011[1]
The findings, published at GMB’s 100th Annual Congress in Plymouth, come as the union reveals that up to 10 million people are currently in insecure work in the UK – up to a third of the workforce is in precarious employment [2]
The number of zero hour and agency contracted workers in increased from 38,000 in 2011 to 78,000 (95%) – and is particularly pronounced among women (208%)
John Philips, GMB Regional Secretary said:
“These figures lift the lid on the insecure reality of the modern world of work.
“Here on our own doorstep in Wales we are witnessing an epidemic of precarious work – and it is growing at a frightening rate among our women workers.
“Hundreds of thousands of people are going to work either not knowing what their hours are, if they’ll be able to pay the bills, or what their long term prospects are.
“Many of these companies can afford to treat their workers better but instead put fat profit margins before people.
“We need a government that is prepared to take action to tackle the scourge of agency work and ban zero hour contracts as has been done in other countries.
“Theresa May and her team of Tories refused to help those who are struggling to gain secure work, while Labour has a proper plan of action.”