Angela Rayner

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader and shadow secretary of state for the future of work, will today address the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Dundee, where she will say a Labour government in Westminster would ban zero-hours contracts as part of a “new deal for working people”.

According to Labour’s analysis, the use of zero-hours contracts in Scotland has surged by 50 per cent since 2013, with a 10 per cent increase in the number of people working on a zero-hours contract in Scotland in the past year alone.

Four in ten (41 per cent) on these contracts are under 25 while more than half (56 per cent) are women.

Ms Rayner said: “Scotland has seen an explosion of zero-hours contracts, leaving working people with insecure hours and no guarantee when their next pay cheque will arrive. This disgraceful surge in insecure work risks a race to the bottom.

“Zero-hours working practices often go hand-in-hand with low pay, and working women are disproportionately affected by the scourge of insecure work. One in 10 young working Scots is now on a zero-hours contract. Scotland deserves better.

“While the Tories and the SNP have failed to deliver the crackdown they promised, the next Labour government will ban zero-hours contracts, safeguard rights at work and raise standards for all.

“With our new deal for working people, Labour has a plan to ensure people have access to fair and secure work. Labour will make Scotland work for working people.”