The TUC warned against slumping wages this morning after a report for the union body showed most people on zero-hours contracts were paid less than average wage.

It revealed that those on zero-hours contracts are paid a national average of £8.83 per hour — a staggering £4 less than the hourly pay of fully-contracted workers.

“The UK has a low pay problem and we are in danger of creating a recovery based on low-paid and insecure employment,” said TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.