Tackling the zero hours challenge

Europe

Zero hours contracts have emerged as a major challenge for some public service workers across Europe, making it another manifestation of the various types of precarious working conditions that are threatening workers across Europe. An EPSU article looks at the latest figures on zero-hours contracts particularly in the UK and the Netherlands. Although zero-hours in this precise form may so far only affect a small number of countries it is clear that other, similar forms of precarious employment are taking hold in other countries.
Read more at > EPSU

More like this

Apr. 15, 2015

Young workers facing zero hours contracts and low pay

Ireland

A survey of the working lives of the under 35s, conducted by the Young Workers Network (YWN), has revealed that nearly 90% struggle to make ends meet with zero hour contracts and low pay the norm for many. The survey also found that 21% of respondents felt their job could end at any time, 20% were working on zero hour contracts and 20% said their employer gives them less than one day’s notice of their working hours. The survey is ill be part of a submission by the YWN to a study on zero hour contracts being conducted by the University of Limerick. [Read more at > SIPTU->http://www.siptu.ie

 S
Jun. 12, 2015

Agreement in University Medical Centres ends zero hour contracts

Netherlands

Health unions have negotiated a new 32-month agreement covering 70000 employees in University Medical Centres. The agreement is backdated to 1 April this year and runs until 1 January 2018 and includes long-term provisions to increase the employment of people with disabilities with 215 taken on this year and 895 by end of 2018 and regular increases beyond that. Temporary jobs will be converted into permanent ones and there will be guaranteed minimum hours and so an end to zero-hour contracts. Pay will be increased by 0.8% as of 1 April this year then three increases of 1% in August 2015, 2016

 S