Jobseekers who refuse to accept zero-hours contracts without a good reason will risk losing their benefits under the new universal credit system.

According to the Office for National Statistics, over one in ten employers are in zero-hours contracts including almost half of all employees in the tourism, catering and food sector. The contracts do not guarantee minimum hours of work or pay but still require workers to be available. According to the terms of the universal credit, the level of benefits someone receives will be adjusted depending on the number of hours they work, but critics have said that the new policy will force people into uncertain employment and restrict their ability to seek better and more stable work.