UNIVERSAL CREDIT - ZERO HOURS CONTRACTS

That this House notes that it is Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) policy that universal credit claimants can be sanctioned if they either refuse to work or leave voluntarily a zero-hours contract; further notes that this is not the case under the legacy system; is aware that zero-hours contracts can be used by employers to exploit workers; is concerned that universal credit claimants will be afraid to leave an exploitative zero-hours job for fear of being sanctioned by the DWP; is further concerned that this will see claimants forced to take contracts with fluctuating earnings and hours which can make it difficult to budget month to month; and calls on the Government to end the sanctioning of claimants who refuse or leave a zero-hours contract.