Labour calls on SCTS to abolish zero hour contracts

Katy Clark

In a letter to SCTS chief executive Eric McQueen, the Scottish Labour MSP cited press reports suggesting that 16 staff members are currently employed via such arrangements in breach of Scottish government diktats.

Ms Clark, who is a member of the Criminal Justice Committee, also noted in the letter that SCTS advertised for legal advisors on a zero hour contractual basis as recently as March, even explicitly describing the arrangements as “zero hours contracts”.

She said: “Despite the Scottish government’s rhetoric around fair work, Scotland has the highest use of zero hours contracts of all the UK nations, public contracts are still handed out to firms that use them, and, most alarmingly, we now know that public bodies are openly flouting a directive not to use them.

“The SCTS has said that these contracts are only offered in ‘exceptional circumstances’. That is not acceptable. The Fair Work Agreement, signed and ratified by Scottish ministers, is not an optional document. It was agreed in good faith by civil service unions only five years ago. The lack of progress is therefore deeply disappointing.

“I would call on the SCTS, and all public bodies, to honour their obligations, follow best practice and uphold workers’ rights.”