by David Nicholson

A MAJORITY of people in Wales want zero-hours contracts banned among companies receiving public money, a Unison poll has found.

The Savanta ComRes poll of 1,021 people, commissioned by the public services union, also found that Welsh people want the next Cardiff government to improve workers’ pay and employment conditions.

Unison Cymru Wales regional secretary Karen Loughlin said: “Unison’s opinion poll shows an overwhelming majority of Welsh people want action on abusive zero-hours contracts.

“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.

“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.”

Ninety per cent of people questioned in the survey said that those providing Wales’s public services, including school support staff, cleaners, catering assistants and street cleaner, should be paid at least £9.50.

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.”

Three-quarters of those polled also said that any company receiving public money must be required to provide workers with a sick pay scheme.

More than two-thirds said that any firm receiving public money must offer a pension scheme.