Motion no: 15
Congress notes with alarm the growth of low hours and zero hours contracts in the Irish Economy, North and South. Approximately 28,000 people are on zero hours contacts in Northern Ireland with widespread underemployment and use short-hours contracts in both jurisdictions. This conference condemns the growth in low hours and zero hours contracts and other forms of precarious employment which demand maximum flexibility from workers but only offers minimum commitment from employers. This conference condemns the abuse of workers forced to accept low hours, flexible contracts. We have witnessed the growing trend amongst employers to offer workers flexible contracts of less than 16 hours per week. Many workers on these contracts regularly work over and above the contracted hours but these additional hours are not guaranteed. We have witnessed in retail the widespread use of 15 hours flexible contracts and their use by management to control and punish the workforce. Many workers on short-hours contracts are unable to claim benefits, apply for mortgages or provide a decent standard of living for themselves or their families. These forms of precarious employment do not offer the opportunity for workers to earn a living wage and instead shifts the burden of providing a living wage onto the state in the form of welfare payments. This conference calls on the incoming Executive Council to launch an immediate campaign for decent contracts, decent work and respect in the work place. The campaign should inform public opinion of the true nature of theses precarious contracts and mobilise all unions in a fight for decent work and a living wage. We must demand that the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government take action to tackle the widespread misuse of low hours and zero hours contracts. We need to lobby for legislation that will ban the use of zero hours contracts where employees are in practice working regular hours. Further the campaign should demand that government introduces legislation to immediately ban/curtail the use of precarious contracts and to ensure that workers have a legal entitlement to contracts which actually reflect their work and provide for decency, certainty and respect at work. Congress believes that if we are to tackle low pay then, as well as ending the exploitation of zero hours contracts and promoting the living wage, we need to make sure that workers have enough contracted hours to provide a decent living without having to depend on non-guaranteed additional hours. Congress welcomes recent European Court of Justice rulings that regular overtime should be included in holiday pay and that holiday pay should be based on an individual's normal remuneration. Congress agrees that the ICTU will campaign to: Highlight the issue of short-hours contract and the general problem of underemployment, alongside continuing to publicise and condemn the misuse of zero hours contracts. Urge employers to offer contracts reflecting the employee's regular normal hours. Call for workers on short-hours contracts to have new rights to a contract reflecting their normal working hours. Ban the use of exploitative zero hours contracts
