Zero hours contracts not a 'positive destination' for Moray's young people

Working a zero hours contract shouldn't be classed as a "positive destination" for Moray's young people after they leave school.

Moray Council has agreed to write to the Scottish Government to ask that the contracts – which one elected member called "precarious and exploitative" – no longer be classed by them as a positive destination.

The move comes after recent figures show that 96.2% of 16 to 18 year olds finishing their secondary education in Moray are in further or higher education, work or training.

The 2022 figure is an improvement from just over 94% previously.

However Sandy Keith (Elgin North, Labour) stated his unhappiness about the inclusion of zero hours contracts in the figures.

Labelling them precarious and exploitative, he said: "I believe one in 10 young working Scots are in zero hours contracts.

"I’m questioning why the Scottish Government is categorising these as a positive destination for school leavers.

"There’s no way they can build a stable life while on these.

"I just think it’s wrong, and I hope the Scottish Government will have a rethink."

Cllr Keith added that in 2013 around 46,000 Scots were in zero hours contracts.

By 2022 that number rose to 94,000.

Susan Slater, the secondary school representative on the committee, felt the contracts were only suitable for a minority of school leavers.

She said: "It gives them no stability moving forward."

Mrs Slater added that as the contracts are considered a positive destination, they could prevent young people getting support from Skills Development Scotland.

The education committee agreed to write to Jenny Gilruth, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, to encourage a rethink.

The most recent figures show 36.86% of school leavers went into employment, up from 27.42%.

However the number of young people choosing to go into higher education fell from just over 37% to 31.36%.

Those choosing further education also fell from 26.62% to 24.4%.

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