For workers like Jessica Burns, the day-to-day uncertainty of variable hours and fluctuating pay creates a precarious existence that undermines their potential and well-being.
The new government’s Employment Rights Bill offers hope for tackling the deep-rooted issues of insecure work. Key measures such as banning zero-hours contracts, making flexible working a india rcs data day-one right, and establishing the Fair Work Agency are steps in the right direction. But as the research and Jessica’s testimony illustrate, the problem extends beyond individual contracts.
Policymakers must address the multifaceted nature of insecurity. We must build on the momentum of the Employment Rights Bill to improve work quality and progression pathways for workers. The first step in doing this is gathering good evidence and using this to set the right targets and monitor progress towards those targets. Our report recommends we bring together a Secure Work Commission to monitor levels of insecurity in the economy and set targets to increase the rate of secure, good quality employment.