17/11/2014

Govt To Produce Study On Zero-Hour Contracts

The government is tendering for a study to look at the prevalence of zero-hour contract use in Ireland, the Minister of State for Business and Employment, Gerald Nash announced.

Minister Nash said if the law needs to be changed to protect low-paid workers on zero-hour contracts, he would not "shirk from doing so".

A zero-hour contract means an employee must be available to work but is not guaranteed to actually receive any hours.

It is understood zero-hour contracts are prevalent in a number of sectors, such as catering, hospitality, teaching and the health sector.

Mr Nash said he expects the government's tendering process to be complete in about four weeks, with a final study due by the end of 2015.

(MH/CD)

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