A FIFE MSP has become the latest employer to sign up for the Zero Hours Justice free accreditation scheme.

Claire Baker MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife has pledged not to hire any staff on a zero hours contract and as a result has become an accredited Zero Hours Justice employer.

She said: “The long-term increase in zero hour contracts across Scotland is not acceptable and insecure work is exacerbating the cost of living for too many people. At all levels of government we need action to address zero-hour contracts so we can build a fairer and stronger economy.

“I am delighted to gain Zero Hours Justice accreditation and would encourage others to join us. Zero Hours Justice accreditation is an excellent way to show commitment to fair work and social justice. I hope many of my colleagues across all parties will sign up, and I would encourage employers across the Mid Scotland and Fife region to do the same.”

It comes after statistics from the Office for National Statistics showed that 94,000 Scottish workers are employed in insecure work, with sectors such as hospitality, social care and retail using them most frequently. In an effort to combat this, the campaign group Zero Hours Justice is encouraging public and private sector employers who offer their workers fair employment contracts to sign up to their free accreditation scheme.

Chris Peace, the director of Zero Hours Justice said: “We are delighted that Claire Baker MSP has become the latest employer in Scotland to gain accreditation as a Zero Hours Justice employer.

“The ONS figures show that zero hours contracts are all too prevalent in the Scottish economy. Zero hours contracts are exploitative and unnecessary. They leave workers uncertain of how many hours they might work, how much they will be paid and how they plan their lives. Zero hours contracts are also bad for business, impacting on workforce morale and employee recruitment and retention.

“MSPs as employers who do not use zero hours contracts are leading by example; we want to encourage more Scottish businesses and organisations to do the same by registering on our website https://www.zerohoursjustice.org/”