Poll: Should zero hour contracts be banned?
People on zero hours contracts can earn as much as they choose, a Government minister has said.
Business minister Baroness Neville-Rolfe made the comments as she defended the use of the contracts, which do not guarantee a worker a minimum number of hours, but said the Government was cracking down on abuses of the system.
Labour peer Baroness Quin asked her at question time in the Lords: "Can you look at the huge problems facing those who seek permanent employment but are simply offered zero hours contracts?
"They face permanent financial insecurity, are unable to access the housing market and are forced on, off and on benefits, which causes great stress and hardship?"
She called for urgent action to tackle "these abuses" of zero hours contracts.
Lady Neville-Rolfe told her: "Most employers using zero hours contracts value the opportunity and flexibility they offer and individuals on them are able to earn as much or as little as they choose.
"In the minority of cases where they are not used responsibly, banning exclusivity clauses will free up individuals to secure additional income elsewhere."
She said research showed people on zero hours contracts were happier in their job and with their work life balance than people on full-time contracts.
But she said "exclusivity clauses" which prevented people from doing more than one job had been banned from last month.
