There are 173 government staff employed on zero-hours contracts.
In the UK zero-hours contracts – where employees have no minimum guaranteed hours of work but are obliged to work when required – have proved controversial as high unemployment means some people have no choice but to accept such contracts even if they are entirely inappropriate.
Chief Minister Allan Bell MHK, in a written reply to a question from Zac Hall (Onchan), said he was not aware of any increase in the number of such contracts nor any complaints about their use.
But he revealed the Department of Economic Development will be seeking views as to whether there is any need to curtail the use of zero-hour contracts as part of a consultation next year into proposed changes to the island’s employment law to be included in the forthcoming Equality Bill.
He said: ‘From an initial review it has been identified there are 173 staff, across the central government public service, engaged under zero-hours contracts, who have an obligation to work when required to do so.
‘This number includes certain seasonal and retained staff. Examples of such workers include rail workers who are expected to work as required and retained firefighters.’
Mr Bell said government does not have information about the number of people employed on zero-hours contracts in the private sector.
He said: ‘Employers need to ensure the use of any particular type of contract is both appropriate to the particular situation and does not have a harmful effect on workers, no more so than in the case of the zero-hours contract which can be a very one-sided arrangement.’
He said there are instances where zero-hours contracts may be appropriate as in the case of retained fire fighters, who are on call and are obliged to turn out in an emergency.
Mr Bell said such contracts may suit a student or a retired person but may be completely unsuitable for anyone who requires a consistent and reliable source of income.
He said the Job Centre currently had no vacancies advertised as zero-hour contracts.
