Labour announces promise to ban zero-hour contracts

Labour’s Shadow Chancellor has outlined how a Labour Government would ban zero-hours contracts, repeat the Trade Union Act and set up a department for employment to enforce new policies.

John McDonnell, who is a key Jeremy Corbyn ally, promised that if Labour got into power his measures would boost the UK’s economy.

On Tuesday, he told the Trades Union Congress in Manchester: “Our programme of workplace reform will restore the balance between employer and worker, and it will do so by installing basic trade union rights in law again, modernising corporate governance structures and extending the opportunity for employees to share collectively in the benefits of ownership of their company.”

McDonnell also promised to take a tougher stance on bogus self-employment.