WOMEN are bearing the brunt of exploitative zero-hours contracts, which are “hindering progress towards gender equality,” according to research by the TUC released today.

The union body found that women are 34 per cent more likely than men to be working under such precarious terms, with black and minority ethnic (BME) and disabled women among the worst affected.

Publication of the findings came after trade unionists gathered in central London yesterday at the annual TUC’s Women’s Conference.