TUC warns Keir Starmer: do not water down ban on zero-hours contracts

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves committed in the general election campaign to legislate within the first 100 days in office to strengthen workers’ rights. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Keir Starmer has been warned against caving in to pressure to water down a ban on exploitative zero-hours contracts, after fresh evidence showing the financial hit for millions in insecure work.

Bosses have told the prime minister he risks causing “real damage” for the economy if the government’s proposals for the biggest overhaul in workers’ rights for a generation are pushed through too quickly.