10. Debate on the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee report: Making the economy work for people on low incomes

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 5:54 pm on 18 July 2018.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Gareth Bennett Gareth Bennett UKIP 5:54, 18 July 2018

Thanks to the committee Chair for bringing today's debate, and to the people who took part in the inquiry. There are several factors involved in being on a low income, but most of them are connected to a person's employment situation. One of the worrying developments of recent years in Wales, and in the UK generally, is that many people on low incomes are now those who are in full-time employment. This demonstrates that many jobs are poorly paid. Many jobs also, in what we now call the gig economy, do not guarantee a full working week. There are some jobs for which people can turn up for work only to be told that there is no work that day. Then they have to return home. So, we have to deal with the problem that employment law in the UK does allow for zero-hours contracts and similar situations.