THE SNP and Labour have clashed over zero hours contracts after new figures showed Scots employed under them earn drastically lower wages than those in full-time work.
The median pay for a zero-hours worker, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is a third less than for full-time employees, £7.49-per-hour compared with £12.17, a difference of £4.68.
The ONS findings show there are 57,000 people in Scotland on zero hour contracts.
Labour's shadow Scotland Office minister Paul Sweeney said working people were being let down by those employment conditions, as he highlighted the figures.
However, the SNP argued that Scotland has a lower proportion of workers on zero-hours contracts than the UK.
The number of zero hours contracts in Scotland dropped by 2,000, while across the UK it has risen by 101,000 in the past 12 months, according to the Scottish Parliament Information Centre figures cited by the SNP.
SNP MSP George Adam said his party backed a ban on zero hours contracts but pointed out that the power remains reserved to Westminster.
Adam said: "The SNP believes the exploitative use of these contracts – where there is no specific justification for their use or where they are used to deny giving workers the protections they are due – should be banned.
“The SNP has consistently argued for the full devolution of employment and equalities law, including minimum wage powers. If the Tories won’t take action at Westminster, we’ll get on with the job in the Scottish Parliament.
“Labour might talk big about workers’ rights but they helped stop Scotland gaining full powers on employment. They should now welcome these figures and work with the SNP to help deliver stronger workers’ rights and conditions in Scotland and across the UK.”
Sweeney restated Labour's call for a ban on the practice.
He said: "A symbol of the failure of the Tories' economic plan is the proliferation of zero-hour contracts, which has helped fuel the low-wage, low-skill economy that is letting working people down and letting down Britain.
"Labour would ban zero hour contracts – so that every worker gets a guaranteed number of hours each week."
The row came as SNP MP Chris Stephens was given the date of October 18 to present a Bill on workers’ rights to the House of Commons.
Stephens said his Bill would ensure that anyone doing paid work is treated as an employee with full rights to holiday pay and other benefits, including those on zero hours contracts .
The Tories said UK ministers were considering a report by former aide to Tony Blair, Matthew Taylor on employment practices.
Scottish Tory shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said: ''The Taylor review on working practices commissioned by the UK Government has just reported its findings, and it is only right that the UK Government takes time to reflect on the recommendations.
"The UK, and Scotland should avoid over-regulation in the labour market, retain flexibility and become a home to innovation.
''The SNP should spend more time focusing on the powers that they do have at their disposal rather than endlessly complaining about the ones that they do not possess.''
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