SHOP workers’ union Usdaw called for new legislation yesterday guaranteeing minimum hours for staff when a trade union demands such a contract to tackle exploitative zero-hours contracts.

Delegates were responding to the recent scandal which found 1.4 million workers are employed on a zero-hours contract.

Usdaw deputy general secretary Paddy Lillis criticised employers for defending the practice as “necessary for the business.”

He said: “This is not the case. The widespread abuse of zero hours must stop.

“Zero-hours contracts are not being used by small companies who don’t know if there will be work next week. It is being done by big companies to exploit workers.”

He added: “As our survey has shown, 95 per cent of Usdaw members have a minimum hours’ contract. However the job is not finished. Usdaw officials will continue to make sure zero-hours contracts stay out of workplaces where we are recognised.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband’s commitment to make employers offer minimum hours contract after six months on zero hours was welcomed by the union but the deputy general secretary said such a contract should be offered after 12 weeks.

Charlotte Nichols from Fallowfield who has worked on zero-hours’ contracts in the past said: “Some weeks I would work 60 hours and others none. I would come into work ill because I thought I had no choice. Let’s continue to tackle injustice and exploitation where we find it.”

Leeds delegate Iain Dalton recalled organising a protest outside Sports Direct — a company known to use zero-hours contracts.

He said: “When people are on those contracts they are often doing it to top up other work. I was on eight hours a week at a different company and when I was promised extra shifts in summer, it suddenly got rid of me because I was on a zero-hours contract. They are not suitable for anybody. Let’s fight for a decent living wage for all our members.”

And Swale delegate Aron Vernon asked: “When did this become okay? When is it okay to have workers waiting for a call at home on the off-chance of work that day?

“They should have a permanent contract right from day one.”