Wales Green Party demand action from Government on zero hours contracts for staff

Alice Hooker-Stroud, Leader of Wales Green Party, has called for the Welsh Government to immediately ban zero hours contracts for their staff.

"The Government has claimed to limit zero hours contracts across Wales, but can't get their own house in order. Welsh Government once again appear to talk the talk, but not walk the walk.

Zero hours contracts risk pushing more people into poverty. The Government has an obligation to ensure that its staff, and the staff of those agencies it employs, are treated fairly. A commitment not to use zero hours contracts should be part of any Government procurement process - and it needs to be enforced. "

Last month, Green Party members reaffirmed their support for workers striking against unfair contracts and their commitment to tackling exploitative employment practices. At Autumn Conference, members voted overwhelmingly in support of an emergency motion instructing the party to push the government on issues of employment status.

Co-Leader of the Green Party of England & Wales, Jonathan Bartley, said:

“The rise of this way of employing people, along with the growing use of agency workers and other kinds of casual work, make it harder to enforce protections for workers’ rights, and make it harder for workers to unionise and fight collectively for better pay and conditions.

Zero-hour contracts, the gig economy and other dodgy employment practises are taking us into an age of insecurity. The Green Party should be at the absolute forefront of the fight back - offering solutions to the challenges of work in the 21st century.”