The Mayor has been urged to lobby ministers for a ban to zero-hours contracts to help strengthen workers rights.
That is the view of the London Assembly that has today passed a motion aimed at supporting workers rights, including ending fire and rehire, and scrapping qualifying periods for basic rights, which leave working people waiting up to two years for essential protections.
The Assembly has also called for ministers to urgently address NHS waiting lists so that Londoners receive the care they need to stay in work.
Marina Ahmad AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“The Government has handled our economy catastrophically, with the country falling into recession.
“London is not immune from the impact of this failure. The cost-of-living crisis is pushing more people towards claiming Universal Credit, going hungry or even losing their home.
“The Mayor has worked to protect Londoners from the worst of the recession’s damage through his Free School Meals programme, Pension Credit campaign and fares freeze.
“The Government needs to step up to protect workers – starting by banning zero-hours contracts, ending fire and rehire and scrapping qualifying periods for basic rights. On top of this, they need to address the NHS waiting lists, so that the hundreds of thousands of people out of work because of sickness can get back to work.”
The full text of the motion is:
The Assembly notes its concern that the UK economy is now in recession having contracted during the final two quarters of 2023.
This highlights the Government’s catastrophic handling of the economy, presiding over the disastrous mini budget, an acute cost of living crisis and rising inequality.
London is feeling the impact of this economic failure, with more than one million Londoners claiming Universal Credit, of which almost half reported experiencing food insecurity, and homelessness, with rough sleeping rising sharply.
The Government has also overseen an increase in the number of people unable to work due to long-term sickness which has reached a record 2.8m people. With NHS waiting lists also at record highs, the Government must urgently address this crisis so people can get the care they need to return to or stay in work.
The Mayor has stepped up to support low-income Londoners through his Universal Free School Meals programme, his Pension Credit campaign, and his decision to freeze transport fares but too many Londoners are struggling to make ends meet.
The Assembly calls on the Mayor to:
- Lobby ministers to strengthen workers’ rights for all workers by banning zero-hours contracts, ending fire and rehire, and scrapping qualifying periods for basic rights, which leave working people waiting up to two years for essential protections.
Lobby ministers to urgently address NHS waiting lists so that Londoners receive the care they need to stay in work.
Notes to editors
- The motion was agreed 13 for and 5 against.
- Watch the webcast.
- Marina Ahmad AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interview.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Anthony Smyth on 07763 251727. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.