Chuka Umunna MP, Labour’s Shadow Business Secretary, commenting ahead of the launch of the government’s consultation on changes to zero-hours contracts, said:
 
“Under David Cameron the use of zero-hours contracts has proliferated, leaving hundreds of thousands of people insecure at work and worried about whether they will be able to put food on the table for their children.
 
“Ministers have failed to act on this worrying rise in zero-hours contracts. Having spent months saying they will investigate, all that has emerged is a consultation on proposals which do not go far enough to tackle exploitation and bad practice.
 
“Labour would act to outlaw the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts.
 
“We would ban employers from insisting zero-hours workers be available even when there is no guarantee of any work, end zero-hours contracts that require people to work exclusively for one business, and make sure contracts properly reflect people’s regular working hours.”