Exclusivity clauses to be banned from zero hours contracts

The Government has announced plans to ban exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts. The plans come in response to the Government's consultation on zero hours contracts which ran from December 2013 to March 2014 and reportedly generated 36,000 responses.

Although the full results of the consultation have not yet been published, the Business Secretary, Vince Cable, also announced that the Government will:

• consult further on how to prevent rogue employers evading the exclusivity ban
• work with unions and business to develop a best practice code of conduct aimed at employers who wish to use zero hours contracts as part of their workforce, and
• work with stakeholders to review existing guidance and improve information available to employees and employers on using these contracts.

The ban on exclusivity clauses will be part of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill which is being introduced to Parliament today.

Click here to read the full press release or here for the Written Ministerial Statement.