© Andy Rain/EPA
Sports Direct caused controversy after it was revealed it employs around 20,000 staff, about 90% of its workforce, on zero-hours contracts.
Sports Direct caused controversy after it was revealed it employs around 20,000 staff, about 90% of its workforce, on zero-hours contracts.
More than 1 million British workers could be employed on zero-hours contracts, new figures released on Monday reveal, suggesting that British business is deploying the controversial employment terms far more widely than previously thought.
The figure - derived from a poll of more than 1,000 employers conducted by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) - prompted renewed calls for the government to launch a full inquiry into the use of the contracts, after a week in which a string of organisations - from retail chains to Buckingham Palace - have faced criticism for hiring staff but offering no guarantee of work and pay each week. Employees on zero-hours contracts often get no holiday or sick pay and have to ask permission before seeking additional work elsewhere.
The CIPD found that 38% of zero-hours contract workers describe themselves as employed full-time, typically working 30 hours or more a week. One third of voluntary sector employers use the contracts, and one in four public sector organisations.
The latest numbers also call into question the accuracy of official data on the topic. Last week, the Office for National Statistics increased its estimate of the number of UK zero-hours workers by 25%, to around 250,000.
