Scotland is the zero-hours contracts capital of the UK, as research from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed a record high rate.
Figures from between January and March this year showed 105,000 Scottish workers - 3.9% of the workforce - have no set working hours.
That is compared to 94,000, or 3.4%, in October to December 2022.
Scotland also has a higher rate than the UK average of 3.4% and tops England’s 3.5%, 2.8% in Wales and 1.3% in Northern Ireland.
Zero-hours contracts, also known as casual contracts, means workers are often unaware of their working hours or their pay each week.
Industries like hospitality and health and social care are particularly reliant on the casual contracts, according to the ONS, while data also shows 25.9% of full-time students are also on zero hours.
Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), said the “grim” statistics should encourage the UK Government to devolve employment law to Holyrood to crack down on the contracts’ use.
It comes as Scotland’s unemployment rates for January to March this year increased slightly to 3.1%, compared to the record 3% recorded between December and February.
Foyer said: “This release from the ONS makes for grim reading as Scotland is crowned the worst nation in the UK for the use of zero-hours contracts.
“Reaching record levels of 105,000, employers are using these contracts to deny workers basic workplace rights, exerting control and power on workers’ terms and conditions.
“It’s an incredibly damning indictment of the UK Government and their chronic handling of the economy that so many must turn to zero hours to make ends meet.”
She added: “Now more than ever, Scotland needs the devolution of employment law to outlaw, once and for all, the use of zero-hours contracts, giving workers security, certainly and workplace rights from day one of their employment.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Zero Hours Justice campaign group said the contracts were a “stain on our economy”, adding: “UK and Scottish ministers must take action to end the use of these exploitative contracts that are causing misery for over 100,000 Scottish workers.”
Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said: “The Scottish Government firmly opposes the inappropriate use of zero hours contracts and other types of employment that offer workers minimal job or financial security.
“Although zero hour contracts fall under employment law, which is reserved to the UK Government, we are committed to making fair work the norm in Scotland.
“Public sector grants awarded on or after July 1 2023 will be required to pay at least the real Living Wage to all employees, and to provide appropriate channels for effective voice, within the bounds of what we can do within devolved competence.
“This step extends the reach of Fair Work First which we have already applied to some £4bn of public funds since 2019.
“Scotland remains the best performing of all four UK countries with 91% of employees over 18 paid the Real Living Wage or more.”
The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
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