Plaid Cymru Member of European Parliament Condemns Zero-hours Contracts

Plaid Cymru (the Party of Wales) MEP Jill Evans has called for a Europe wide ban on the use of Zero-hours contracts. A Zero hours contract is a contract of employment that allows employers to assert that they have no obligation to provide work for an employee but that the employee agree to be available for work as and when required. For the majority of the working population such an arrangement means that those with ongoing financial commitments and a family to support face unpredictable hours and earnings. Some employers are able to use the contracts to ensure that workers have little power to assert their employment rights or seek decent working conditions.

Alarm has grown over the increase of use of Zero-hours contracts and how some unscrupulous employers are using them as a method of exploitation. The Welsh Government has three times rejected Plaid Cymru legislation to outlaw them for social care and health workers and for agricultural workers. It is thought that up to 60% of domiciliary care workers are employed on zero hours contracts. 

In the run up to the 2014 European elections, Plaid Cymru Member of the European Parliament for Wales Jill Evans said that the failure of UK and Welsh Governments to defend workers’ rights means that a Europe-wide ban is needed:

“Plaid Cymru is the only party that puts the needs of the people of Wales first.

“It is a disgrace that so many people are kept on compulsory zero-hours contracts which means they have to be ready for work, even though the company that pays them may not have any this week.

“This is the economics of the workhouse – wait around until you’re picked for work.

“Sadly the UK and Welsh Governments have failed to deal with this in any way at all.

“Worse, the Welsh Government has three times rejected Plaid Cymru legislation that would have banned these contracts for workers in social care and health, and in the agricultural sector.

“If we cannot rely on our national government to protect Welsh workers then we must take action at a European level to make sure that our workers have the same employment support as workers elsewhere in Europe.

“Plaid Cymru will launch a new campaign to ensure that the new employment commissioner in Europe takes action against these compulsory zero-hours contracts, and other countries whose governments allow similarly unfair contracts, such as Italy.

“There is no good reason why our Welsh workers should be exploited by large multi-national companies, and Plaid Cymru will stand up for our Welsh workers’ rights to end this.” 

People in Wales will be able to cast their vote for the European Parliament election on Thursday 22nd May 2014.