Zero-hours contracts - Minster says no problem

Friday 23 September 2016

The door has been closed on more debate around zero-hours contracts following a fractious meeting of the Health and Social Security Panel yesterday.

Social Security Minister Susan Pinel told the panel there was no need for any discussion on the issue of zero-hours contracts “because there is no evidence a problem exists.”

That opinion was not shared by Deputy Geoff Southern or Panel Chairman Richard Renouf, who repeatedly quizzed the Minister over why she felt there was no need for further discussions on the matter. The Panel had commissioned their own survey into zero-hours deals and both Deputies insisted that indicated widespread dissatisfaction with the practice, with nearly 4,000 employees in Jersey currently affected. 

Deputy Southern labelled zero-hours contracts as “exploitation,” while Deputy Renouf said he was surprised the Minister was not interested in further investigation as a recent poll of zero-hours workers in the Island showed that around a quarter - approximately 1,000 workers - were ‘not satisfied’ with their employment. 

Deputy Renouf said: “You are saying we are not going to try and control the bad employers because they might become even worse and will find ways to avoid their obligations. So therefore we are not even going to consult on what we can do about it. Surely we need a wider discussion on how to prevent the wider mis-use of these contracts and you are not permitting that.” 

Deputy Pinel said: “On the basis there is no evidence of mis-use of these contracts, why would you initiate a consultation when there is no evidence of the abuse of zero-hours contracts? Why would you initiate a very lengthy, time-consuming and expensive consultation? There is no point in three months of consultation and all that involves if there is no evidence of mis-use.”    

Deputy Renouf said he felt there was plenty of evidence to show that zero-hours contracts were unpopular and left people vulnerable. 

“We feel we have the evidence of our own survey and the evidence points to one in four people being dissatisfied with zero-hour contracts when it is their main source of income. Jersey is not alone in this. The UK and the Republic of Ireland have found it necessary to amend their legislation and introduce protection and they have a much lower prevalence of zero-hour contracts in their economy. Does not their high prevalence in our economy suggest to you that we really should address this question?”

The Minister replied: “They have very different legislation to ours. There is no reason to over-complicate what is already very good employment law.”

Deputy Southern said he was incredulous. “So there is no point in doing anything because the baddies will always break the law. What? That is a childish view. There are dead-end jobs on zero-hours contracts.”  

But the Minister insisted that zero-hours deals could often lead to full-time employment. “It can be a first step onto the ladder of full employment. The employment situation is getting so much better now and it is a step on the rung to getting a job. If somebody has never had a job before, any job is better than no job.”