Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to reports of sanctions for jobseekers refusing zero-hours contracts, said:

“Just last month Employment Minister Esther McVey said that no-one at Jobcentre Plus would be forced to apply for a job offering a zero-hours contract. Now we hear that they’ll receive sanctions if they don’t. David Cameron’s Government now needs to urgently clarify the circumstances in which someone will be forced to take a zero-hours job.

“The huge increase in zero-hours contracts under the Tory-led government is another sign of their failure to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and deliver a recovery that works for everyone. Labour would outlaw zero-hours contracts where they exploit people, as well as improving opportunities for jobseekers by reforming the failing Work Programme. Labour’s Compulsory Jobs Guarantee would also get the long-term unemployed into a 25-hours a week, paid job – work they’d have to take or lose their benefits.”

Notes:

In response to a Parliamentary Question on 10 April 2014 Employment Minister Esther McVey said “Jobcentre Plus guidance stipulates that claimants should not be mandated to apply for a job offering a zero hours contract. It also states that no sanction action will be taken if claimants refuse or fail to apply.”