Zero-hours Contracts

Helen Jones Excerpts

Wednesday 16th October 2013 Commons Chamber

[Mr Umunna]

Some argue that we should not point to bad practice in the business community because to do so is to fuel anti-business rhetoric. I think that it is important that we call out people who are systematically exploiting and abusing others under these contracts. For example, Sports Direct uses these contracts across the board, whereas others, such as Asda, acknowledge that they could use them if they wanted, but do not want to treat their people in that way, and if that means that they have to spend more time drawing up rotas and using overtime arrangements in contracts, so be it; they do not want to treat people in that way.

[Helen Jones (Warrington North) (Lab)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that firms that exploit people by using zero-hours contracts are undermining good employers who institute flexible working and annualised contracts, meaning that we are in danger of the bad driving out the good?

[Mr Umunna]

I completely agree with my hon. Friend; of course, it means they can undercut others, so hers was a point well made.