Britain’s big insecure work problem

One in eight British workers are now in insecure work, suffering low job security, exploitative contracts, and financial insecurity.

This is according to a new analysis from The Trades Union Congress (TUC), which found that around 4 million people are now in insecure work in the UK, a significant increase from 2011, when only 3.2 million were in insecure work.

This increase of 800,000 people in insecure work under the Conservative government means that the proportion of the UK workforce now in insecure work is 11.7%.

The TUC classifies workers on zero-hour contracts; agency, casual, and seasonal workers; and low-paid self-employed workers as those who are in insecure work.

“Insecure work has an enormous effect on people at work. The prospect of having work offered or cancelled at short notice makes it hard to budget household bills, plan wider life and meet caring responsibilities,” the report said.

“Insecure work is also low paid in comparison to permanent employment leaving many insecure workers struggling financially. Insecurity and low pay go hand-in-hand.”

The TUC notes that insecure work is prevalent across the United Kingdom, with the highest proportion of insecure workers in the South West and Wales.

Men are slightly more likely to be in insecure work than women, and Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) workers are significantly more likely to bein insecure work than white workers, the TUC said.

The union argues that the this growing issue of insecure work highlights the importance of the Employment Rights Bill, which will help to improve the lives of those in precarious employment across the country.

The TUC has urged the government to push forward and implement this bill to help 4 million insecure workers across the company lead more stable and secure lives.

“So we are urging the government to ‘stand firm’ in the face of cynical attacks on the Employment Rights Bill from Conservative and Lib Dem peers,” the TUC said.

“The Bill is now set for parliamentary ping pong – but despite the best efforts of the opposition, when it passes it could transform working lives for millions of workers now and into the future.”

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