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| Tory minister says he understands life on zero-hours contracts because he used to be £250-an-hour barrister | Tory minister says he understands life on zero-hours contracts because he used to be £250-an-hour barrister |
| (3 months later) | |
| A Tory minister said he understood what it was like to live on a zero-hours contract because he once worked as a barrister, charging £250 per hour. | A Tory minister said he understood what it was like to live on a zero-hours contract because he once worked as a barrister, charging £250 per hour. |
| During a 2013 parliamentary debate about the problem of insecure work, Guy Opperman said: “It is right that we debate issues of low pay and the nature of contracts in this House. | During a 2013 parliamentary debate about the problem of insecure work, Guy Opperman said: “It is right that we debate issues of low pay and the nature of contracts in this House. |
| “I should make a declaration, Mr Speaker, that as a former barrister I was unquestionably on a zero-hours contract in that I was an employee not obliged to be given work by my employer and in that particular circumstance I had to accept though.” | “I should make a declaration, Mr Speaker, that as a former barrister I was unquestionably on a zero-hours contract in that I was an employee not obliged to be given work by my employer and in that particular circumstance I had to accept though.” |
| He went on to defend the controversial contracts, which do not guarantee any work. Zero-hours contracts “help to plug a gap”, Mr Opperman said, adding that MPs should not criticise councils who have employed workers in this way. | He went on to defend the controversial contracts, which do not guarantee any work. Zero-hours contracts “help to plug a gap”, Mr Opperman said, adding that MPs should not criticise councils who have employed workers in this way. |
| In her reshuffle this week, Prime Minister Theresa May promoted the MP to a junior role in the Department for Work and Pensions. | In her reshuffle this week, Prime Minister Theresa May promoted the MP to a junior role in the Department for Work and Pensions. |
| During the 2013 exchange, Labour MP Alison McGovern asked Mr Opperman to consider the reality of working on a contract that did not guarantee hours “perhaps not in his own life, but in reality, in our economy now.” | During the 2013 exchange, Labour MP Alison McGovern asked Mr Opperman to consider the reality of working on a contract that did not guarantee hours “perhaps not in his own life, but in reality, in our economy now.” |
| Mr Opperman replied: “As a barrister, I spent two and a half years without a contract. With respect, I therefore suggest I do have some experience of that, with no contract whatsoever.” | Mr Opperman replied: “As a barrister, I spent two and a half years without a contract. With respect, I therefore suggest I do have some experience of that, with no contract whatsoever.” |
| Almost 1 million people now rely on a job that does not give them any fixed hours for their main source of income, leaving many without the security of knowing they will be able to pay their bills. | Almost 1 million people now rely on a job that does not give them any fixed hours for their main source of income, leaving many without the security of knowing they will be able to pay their bills. |
| A Government-commissioned review, led by the head of the Royal Society of Arts, Matthew Taylor, is expected to call for all employees on zero-hours contracts to have the right to request guaranteed hours. It is due to report this summer. | A Government-commissioned review, led by the head of the Royal Society of Arts, Matthew Taylor, is expected to call for all employees on zero-hours contracts to have the right to request guaranteed hours. It is due to report this summer. |
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