Employment Rights Bill to End ‘Exploitative’ Zero Hour Contracts

The government has announced details of its new plans for workers’ rights, including an end to zero-hour contracts and fire and rehire practices, as well as changes to the terms for sick pay and flexible working. Ministers unveiled the Employment Rights Bill on Thursday, which includes 28 employment reforms such as ending “exploitative” zero-hours contracts. Employers will now have to offer zero-hours workers, as well as those on low-hours contracts, a guaranteed hours contract if they work regular hours over a defined period. “Unscrupulous” fire and rehire practices will be ended, with the government saying it was “shutting down the loopholes that allow bullying fire and rehire and fire and replace to continue.”...