Scotland 'worst nation' in UK for number of workers relying on zero hours contracts

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A higher percentage of workers in Scotland are now relying on zero hours contracts than any other UK nation.Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that from October last year to March this year the number of Scots relying on such contracts increased from 94,000 to 105,000.That means 3.9 per cent of the Scottish workforce does not have set hours from week-to-week - compared to a UK average of 3.4 per cent.Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), described the increase as "damning" and repeated her call for the devolution of employment law to the Scottish Parliament.The ONS figures also found that the real value of wages in Scotland had dropped three per cent on average due to rampant inflation.Economic inactivity in Scotland - a measure of people unavailable for work - has risen to 22 per cent, a higher level than the UK figure of 21 per cent.Foyer said: “This release from the ONS makes for grim reading as Scotland is crowned the worst nation in the UK for the use of zero-hours contracts."Reaching record levels of 105,000, employers are using these contracts to deny workers basic workplace rights, exerting control and power on workers’ terms and conditions.It’s an incredibly damning indictment of the UK Government and their chronic handling of the economy that so many must turn to zero hours to make ends meet."With real terms pay continuing to fall, economic inactivity up and employment down, workers across Scotland desperately need change and cannot countenance any future Tory government playing fast and loose with their economic futures."Now more than ever, Scotland needs the devolution of employment law to outlaw, once and for all, the use of zero hours contracts,