The Trades Union Congress has raised concerns about the need to safeguard workers’ rights from what they describe as “cynical” attacks by the Conservative Party. According to newly released data ahead of their annual conference in Brighton, the TUC highlighted that 4 million individuals are engaged in insecure employment, constituting 1 in 8 of the total workforce. Insecure work, as defined by the TUC, includes those on zero-hours contracts, agency, casual, and seasonal workers, as well as low-paid self-employed individuals who lack essential rights and protections.
The prevalence of insecure work in the UK has been deemed detrimental to both workers and the economy, with a notable surge under the Conservative government, leading to an increase of 800,000 from 2011 to 2024. Particularly impacted sectors such as care, leisure, service, and elementary jobs have seen a substantial rise in low-paid positions, accounting for 77% of the overall growth in insecure employment. Additionally, black and minority ethnic (BME) workers have been disproportionately affected, with the proportion of BME workers in insecure employment rising from 12.2% to 16.3% between 2011 and 2024, with BME workers constituting 70% of the surge in insecure work.
The TUC is now calling on the government to resist cynical attempts to weaken workers’ rights, particularly in light of the Employment Rights Bill facing parliamentary scrutiny after efforts by Conservative and Liberal Democrat Peers to water down key protections. TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak emphasized the importance of secure work, highlighting that job security directly impacts earnings and consumer spending. Nowak stressed the necessity of the Employment Rights Bill to address the issue by banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, extending protections to agency workers, and introducing crucial safeguards like day one sick pay, protection from unfair dismissal, and harassment.
The government is urged to stand firm against attempts by the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to impede essential rights for millions of workers.