The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has announced plans to “ban” exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts. These are clauses which seek to prevent individuals from working for other employers, even when no work is guaranteed. An estimated 125,000 workers will benefit from this change.

The Government has said that it will also:

  1. increase the availability of information for individuals on zero hours contracts;
  2. consult further on how to prevent “rogue employers” from evading the exclusivity ban; and
  3. work with unions and business to develop a best practice code of conduct aimed at employers that want to use zero hours contracts as part of their workforce.

The proposed ban will form part of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill which is being introduced to Parliament today.