THE Scottish government must eradicate zero-hours contracts if it is to address the recruitment crisis in the health and social care sectors, campaigners said today.

Zero Hours Justice activists demanded that SNP ministers take “immediate steps to end the use of these contracts once and for all” or see NHS vacancy numbers rise still further. 

The labour movement has repeatedly warned that casual zero-hours working arrangements — under which employees receive work only when bosses see fit to provide it — allow management to exploit workers and leave them particularly exposed to the worsening cost-of-living crisis.