Abuse of Zero Hours Contract Act 2021

The First Reading, where legislation is briefly introduced to the House, before debate begins.
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Dan
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Abuse of Zero Hours Contract Act 2021

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Abuse of Zero Hours Contracts Act 2021

Key provisions:

1. Every worker under a zero hours contract will be entitled to request a fixed hours contract after 12 months of employment which cannot be unreasonably refused by the Employer
2. Every worker on a zero hours contracts will benefit from a 20% higher minimum wage at times of normal demand as compensation for the uncertainty of fluctuating hours of work, or face fines under the Employment Act 1996.
3. Employers will legally have to provide an Employee Assistance Programme to zero hours contract workers or expand an existing Employee Assistance Programme to workers on zero hours contracts,within the next 12 months of the passing of this bill; or face fines under the Employment Act 1996.
Mr Speaker,

I rise to present the Abuse of Zero Hours Contracts Act 2021 to parliament.

Mr Speaker, this government has not done enough to support workers on zero hours contracts in this country. There are many workers out there who are sucked into poorly paid and insecure jobs that are damaging livelihoods and also having an impact on mental health.

Mr Speaker, this bill today will set right what the government has failed to take action on for some time now. Under this bill, it provides certainty by guaranteeing every worker on a zero hours contract the right to request a fixed hours contract after 12 months of employment. This cannot Mr Speaker be unreasonably refused by the Employer.

Mr Speaker, this bill also provides workers on zero hours contracts with more financial security. Under this bill, workers on a zero hours contract must benefit from a 20% higher minimum wage at times of normal demand. This Mr Speaker, is compensation for zero hours contracts worker who are in the unprecedented situation of fluctuating hours of work. Mr Speaker, this builds on recommendations from Matthew Taylor, the chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts, in the Taylor Review, an independent review of modern working practices. This was presented to the Government in 2017 when the MP for Maidenhead, the former Prime Minister, pledged to look at the recommendations "very carefully and seriously". Sadly Mr Speaker, no action has been taken.

Mr Speaker, this bill also focuses on mental health support for zero hours contracts workers. Under this bill, Businesses will legally have to provide an Employee Assistance Programme to zero hours contract workers or expand an existing Employee Assistance Programme to workers on zero hours contracts. If businesses fail to comply, they will face fines under the Employment Act 1996 and workers will be free to take a business to a tribunal for a breach of workers rights.

Mr Speaker, this bill stamps out the abuse of zero hours contracts. I call on the Government and in particular the Prime Minister, to allow this legislation to be debated in parliament.

I commend this bill to the house.
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