THREE in four managers have backed a ban on zero-hours contracts and the mandatory publication of ethnicity and disability pay gaps in Labour’s New Deal for Working People.

The polling by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) also showed more than four in five bosses said granting workers fundamental day-one rights was important.

Eight in 10 managers said they believed workers’ rights should be a top priority in national policies, while 83 per cent said such changes can positively impact workplace productivity, the research found.

Union leaders have warned business groups against pushing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to dilute the plans.

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “Managers know their workforce do a better job when they are happy and more secure at work.

“That’s why they overwhelmingly support key policies in Labour’s New Deal for Working People like banning zero-hours contracts and giving workers fundamental day-one rights.

“Since the Conservatives came into power in 2010, insecure work has exploded, living standards have been hammered and productivity has gone through the floor. The UK’s long experiment with a low-rights low-wage economy has been total failure.

“Labour’s New Deal for Working People stands in stark contrast to the Conservatives’ dire record.”

He said the ban on zero-hours contracts and fire-and-rehire tactics “would be good for our economy too,” adding: “Good employers have nothing to fear from Labour’s plans.

“They should get behind the New Deal for Working People.”

Shadow business secretary Justin Madders added: “We should be proud of our plans to strengthen rights at work and be positive about the difference they’ll make to millions of people’s lives — when businesses are welcoming many aspects of our new deal for working people, we should know we are on to a winner.”