Zero-hours contracts: peers accused of ‘trying to block stronger UK workers’ rights’ | Zero-hours contracts

Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers have been accused of trying to block stronger rights for millions of workers amid a growing campaign by business leaders to water down Labour’s zero-hours contract plans.

In a blow for the government, the Lords last week voted to curtail the manifesto promise to give workers a right to a guaranteed hours contract and day-one protections against unfair dismissal.

Setting up a showdown with the upper chamber, the Lords passed a series of amendments to the employment rights bill that will must be addressed by ministers when MPs return from their summer break.

In an angry intervention on Monday, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Paul Nowak, said the Lords was “doing the bidding of bad bosses” and ought to “get out of the way”…