Workers on zero-hours contracts will be given greater job security as part of a new programme, the Living Wage Foundation has announced.
The Living Hours programme, created by the charity that campaigns for a Living Wage, will see zero-hours contracts workers paid the Living Wage and given at least four weeks notice of their shifts.
The programme would also see workers given contracts that accurately reflect how many hours they work per week, with a guaranteed minimum of 16 hours.
Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation, said: "The Living Wage has put almost £1bn extra into the pockets of more than 200,000 workers, but it's increasingly clear that pay is not the only driver of in-work poverty.
"A lack of secure, stable hours is leaving millions of families struggling to keep their heads above water. This isn't good for workers or businesses."
Ms Chapman added: "A shift cancelled at the last minute might sound small, but it can be the difference between being able to pay for your family's dinner that night or going hungry. And being expected to work at short notice means you can't plan around other costs and commitments."
Julian Richer, founder of Richer Sounds which has committed to the Living Hours programme, said: "If you treat the people who work for you well, you're going to have happier, more motivated staff, and ones that stay with you for years.
"Offering Living Hours is a great way to provide workers with security, but it's also going to help businesses in the long-run."
