Committee publication · Correspondence · 7 July 2026
Letter from Unite the Union relating to zero hours workers, 29 June 2026
From: Business and Trade Committee
Inquiry: Employment rights
Summary
Unite the Union submits written evidence ahead of oral testimony to the Business and Trade Committee on zero hours workers' rights. The union represents thousands of hospitality workers on zero hours contracts and raises concerns that the Employment Rights Act 2025 proposals contain significant gaps that could allow employers to circumvent protections, particularly through threshold and regularity tests that may exclude vulnerable workers.
Key findings
- Hospitality sector has highest concentration of zero hours contracts in economy (32%); young people 5 times more likely to be on such contracts, disproportionately affecting women and BAEM workers
- Over 80% of zero hours contract workers want consistent schedules, yet one-third report employers denied their requests for guaranteed hours
- Unite has successfully negotiated agreements ending zero hours contracts with Glasgow Film Theatre, Stand Comedy Club, Village Hotels, and G1 Group, demonstrating feasibility
- Proposed guaranteed hours threshold of 8-20 hours risks excluding workers above threshold; regularity test threatens to exclude those on unpredictable or non-weekly work patterns
- Seasonal workers in retail, hospitality, food manufacturing and agriculture at serious risk of missing new protections under current proposals
Tone
CriticalTopics
Key actors
Unite the Union, Hospitality UK, Office of National Statistics, Glasgow Film Theatre, Stand Comedy Club, Village Hotels, G1 Group, Department (Employment Rights)
Notable line
“It is vital for the government to introduce effective regulations which end the use of exploitative zero hours contracts and the 'one-sided' flexibility in the hospitality sector which only benefits employers.”
Key Quotes
“I could never plan anything. How anyone on a zero-hour contracts with family commitments can make it work is beyond me. It was one of my first jobs and I was shocked at how poor the protections are at work.”
“"For emotional and financial stability, a worker needs to be able to secure enough hours to survive.”
“As it stands Unite is concerned that employers will be able to game the system to avoid new protections and that the very workers who the rights were designed to protect will lose out.”
“It is welcome that the Employment Rights Act 2025 supports the use of collective bargaining to end the abuse of zero hours contracts.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗