New figures suggest the number of people on zero-hours contracts in the UK could be four times higher than previously estimated, with workers in the tourism sector among those affected. These contracts guarantee no minimum hours, leaving employees to live with unpredictable incomes and little job security.
Calum, a 17-year-old housekeeper at the holiday operator Center Parcs, says the arrangement initially allowed him to fit work around his studies. But days before his two-year anniversary, he was told he is no longer needed. "They make it quite clear when you start - you've got no employment rights and no job security until you've been employed for two years," he said. Center Parcs spokesman Simon Kay declined to comment on individual cases but said the company only offers such contracts to employees who benefit from the flexibility.
Another student working at a tourist attraction in Beer, Devon, said he was simply glad to get the work. "I'm probably the best person to hire on this type of contract as I don't have to do any budgeting or family planning," he said. However, the uncertainty can be devastating for others. Karen, a social care worker for 25 years, saw her salary halve to about £300 a month when transferred to a zero-hours contract. "You feel bullied," she said. "You start at 06:30am, could work till 11:30am, then be told there's no more work for you today."
The impact extends beyond tourism. A 40-year-old further education teacher said she still lives with her mother because her income fluctuates too much to save for a deposit. Pat, nearly 50, who collected donations for charities, told of weeks without work, empty fridges, and sleeping on sofas. Employers defend the contracts: Pell and Bales chief executive Derwyn Jones said many staff appreciate the flexibility, while Sean Rider of 1st Energy dismissed claims of penalising workers as "nonsense". But think tank director Ian Brinkley said for many, particularly in domestic care, retail and hotels, the arrangements are "exploitative and pretty awful".
