Welsh opinion poll results: Ban companies from public contracts if they use zero hours

70 per cent of the Welsh public believe companies receiving public money should not be allowed to hire staff on zero-hour contracts.

That’s the finding of a Savanta ComRes poll of 1,021 people released today (Friday).

The poll, commissioned by public services union, UNISON, also found Welsh people want the next Senedd government to improve workers’ pay and employment conditions:

  • 90 per cent of people questioned believe those providing Wales’ public services, including school support staff, cleaners, catering assistants and street cleaners should be paid at least £9.50 or more – the level set by the independent Living Wage Foundation.
  • 76 per cent believe it should be mandatory for any company receiving public money from the Welsh government to provide its workers with a company sick pay scheme. Many care workers in the private sector do not receive this
  • 72 per cent believe it should be mandatory for any company receiving public money from the Welsh government to provide its workers with a company annual leave scheme.
  • 67 per cent believe it should be mandatory for any company receiving public money from the Welsh government to provide its workers with a company pension scheme.
  • 61 per cent felt workplace conditions would improve for employees if the Welsh government changed the law to bring unions and employers together to develop workplace policies.

UNISON’s calling for the next Welsh government to pass a social partnership act which would significantly boost wages and employment conditions for thousands of workers in both the public and private sectors.

UNISON says a social partnership act would place a duty on all public bodies to promote fair work including when they tender contracts. This means everyone in the supply chain – including private contractors, earning the real living wage; an end to the abuse of zero-hour contracts and protection for workers’ rights.

Welsh care worker Sian Stockham, said

A social partnership act would transform the lives of thousands of care workers in Wales and their families. No-one can do the family budget on a zero-hours contract and minimum wage pay means I must work two jobs to get by.

“Social partnership would help give care workers the status and career we deserve and a pay rise to £9.50 an hour, would give me a better work-life balance. I could spend more time with my grandson and occasionally treat myself to something special.”

UNISON Cymru Wales regional secretary, Karen Loughlin, said

“The Covid pandemic has allowed people to see the inequality in this country and there’s a real hunger for change to make sure working people are treated more fairly.

“UNISON’s opinion poll shows an overwhelming majority of Welsh people want action on abusive zero hours contracts; an end to people labouring on such low wages they are pushed into poverty and an end to the scandal of companies failing to provide a decent sick pay scheme to their staff.

“The next Welsh government must match these ambitions. UNISON is calling on the political parties to commit to a social partnership act which brings employers, unions and government together to determine workplace policies. Undoubtedly, this would make Wales a more equal place to live.”

Notes for editors

Savanta ComRes interviewed 1,021 Welsh adults aged 16+ online from 1 to 7 April 2021. Data were weighted to be representative of Welsh adults by age, gender, region and SEG.

Q. Which of the following sentences best describes your thoughts on pay for those employed in public services in Wales (for example, school support staff, cleaners, catering assistants and street cleaners)?

  1. The real living wage is £9.50/hour.
SUM: All at least or more 90%
All should be paid more than the real living wage 31%
All should be paid at least the real living wage 59%
Some can be paid less than the real living wage 5%
All should be paid less than the real living wage 1%
Don’t know 4%

Base: All respondents (n=1,021)

Q. Which of the following sentences best describes your thoughts on private companies receiving public money from the Welsh government?

Companies receiving public money should be allowed to hire staff on zero-hour contracts 14%
Companies receiving public money should not be allowed to hire staff on zero-hour contracts 70%
Don’t know 16%

Base: All respondents (n=1,021)

Q. Which of the following workplace conditions should be mandatory for any company receiving public money from the Welsh government?

Sick pay 76%
Annual leave 72%
Workplace pension 67%
Flexible working hours 48%
Shared parental leave 39%
Encourage their staff to join a union 31%
Other 1%
Don’t know 8%
None of these 2%

Base: All respondents (n=1,021)

Q. If the Welsh government changed the law to bring unions and employers together to develop workplace policies, to what extent do you think that workplace conditions in Wales would become better or worse for employees?

SUM: Better 61%
SUM: Worse 8%
Much better 22%
Somewhat better 39%
No difference 18%
Somewhat worse 6%
Much worse 2%
Don’t know 13%

Base: All respondents (n=1,021)

Contact

Alastair Gittins, UNISON Cymru Wales press officer on 07816 53 83 97