Peadar Tóibín
Question:255. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to abolish zero hour contracts. [9284/15]
View answerTuesday, 3 March 2015
Questions (255)
Written answers
In accordance with the Statement of Government priorities, I have commissioned a study into the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts and the impact of such contracts on employees. I recently announced the appointment of the University of Limerick (UL) to carry out the study. The appointment of UL follows a competitive tendering process.
The key objectives of the study are:
- To fill the gap in knowledge that currently exists in terms of the hard data and information that is available concerning the prevalence of zero hour and low hour contracts in the Irish economy and the manner of their use.
- To assess the impact of zero hour and low hour contracts on employees.
- To enable the Minister to make any evidence-based policy recommendations to Government considered necessary on foot of the study.
All sectors of the economy, both public and private, will come within the scope of the study, including the retail, hospitality, education and health sectors in particular. The study will examine how zero and low hour contracts operate in practice and how they impact on employees. It will assess the advantages and disadvantages from the perspective of employer and employee and assess the current employment rights legislation as it applies to employees on such contracts. The study will also consider recent developments in other jurisdictions, including the UK in particular.
Section 18 of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 provides that where employees on zero hour contracts suffer a loss by not being given the hours they were requested to work or be available for work, they can be compensated for 25% of the time or 15 hours, whichever is less. There would not appear to be an equivalent provision in the UK, where it would appear employees on zero hours contracts may only be paid for time spent working and if they are not given any hours by their employer they do not appear to have the same statutory right to compensation.
It is expected that a wide range of stakeholders will be canvassed to contribute to the study, including employer representative bodies, trade unions, relevant Government Departments and relevant state bodies. I expect the study to be completed within six months of commencement.
I will not anticipate the outcome of the study or the Government’s consideration of the study’s findings.