The Trades Union Congress has raised concerns about safeguarding workers’ rights from what they call “cynical” assaults by the Conservative Party. In preparation for their annual conference in Brighton, the TUC released a new report highlighting that 4 million individuals, constituting 1 in 8 of the workforce, are engaged in insecure employment. They emphasized the widespread nature of insecure work throughout the UK, noting its negative impact on both workers and the economy.
According to the TUC, insecure work includes individuals on zero-hours contracts, agency workers, casual and seasonal employees (excluding those on fixed-term contracts), and low-paid self-employed individuals who lack essential rights and protections. The prevalence of insecure work significantly escalated under the Conservative government, with an increase of 800,000 individuals from 2011 to 2024.
The surge in low-paid positions in sectors like care, leisure, service, and elementary jobs has been the primary driver behind the 77% rise in insecure jobs. Furthermore, black and minority ethnic (BME) workers have been disproportionately affected, with the proportion of BME workers in insecure employment rising from 12.2% to 16.3% between 2011 and 2024. BME workers represent 70% of the spike in insecure work.
The TUC is urging the government to resist attempts aimed at weakening the Employment Rights Bill following maneuvers by Conservative and Liberal Democrat Peers to undermine crucial workers’ rights in the House of Lords. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak stressed the importance of ensuring job security for workers to improve their earnings and overall spending.
Nowak emphasized the necessity of the Employment Rights Bill, which aims to combat insecure work by prohibiting exploitative zero-hours contracts, encompassing agency workers, and providing workers with essential protections such as immediate sick pay, safeguarding against unfair dismissal and harassment. The TUC is calling on the government to uphold these critical rights in the face of opposition from Conservative and Liberal Democrat circles.
In conclusion, the TUC underscores the urgent need to address the challenges posed by insecure work and advocates for robust measures to protect workers’ rights in the UK.