Government urged to deliver promised crackdown on exploitative zero hours contracts

The Government is facing calls to follow through on its promised crackdown on zero-hours contracts, with union chiefs dismissing arguments against the policy as "baseless myths".

Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, will argue that commercial lobbyists must be stood up to, insisting that the evidence for ending insecure and variable working arrangements is overwhelming.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the TUC Congress in Brighton, Mr Nowak will warn that business groups—particularly those in heavily exposed industries like hospitality—have been "loudly campaigning" against ministers' plans to outlaw exploitative practices.

Mr Nowak said: "It’s time for government to face down the business lobbyists and deliver its zero-hours crackdown in full.

"Time and time again, we hear baseless myths from the usual suspects, and too often the actual costs to workers is ignored in favour of the hypothetical costs to bad bosses.

"Let’s remember what this is all about – low-paid precarious workers who don’t know how much they’ll be earning from week to week or the hours they’ll be working.

"Good employers have nothing to fear from these new rights. This will level the playing field for them and stop the cowboys."

A Government spokesperson said: "We are absolutely committed to ending exploitative zero-hours contracts, where workers bear all the financial risk when hours, shifts and earnings are unpredictable.

"These reforms will give workers in every postcode greater income security and predictability of hours.

"We have had extensive engagement with trade unions and businesses to get the detail right and will use the evidence from the consultation to ensure this works in the real world."