The Covid inquiry asked to investigate how precarious work has made millions vulnerable to the pandemic

The Trades Union Congress wants the official inquiry led by Baroness Heather Hallett to look into how those on zero hours or otherwise irregular contracts have been affected

The TUC wants the coronavirus inquiry to examine the 'uncontrolled growth' of 'precarious work' before the pandemic (

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Unions are today calling on the Covid inquiry to examine how the 'uncontrolled growth' of 'precarious work', such as zero-hour contracts, has left millions of low-paid, frontline transplant recipients vulnerable to pandemic.

A study by the Trades Union Congress found that in 2011, 3.2 million people were in precarious work, rising to 3.7 million in 2019.

The agency has used a definition of precarious work that includes people who work through an agency or who have casual and seasonal jobs, but are not on a fixed-term contract; those whose main job is under a zero-hour contract; and the self-employed who are paid less than one-third of the average wage.

A report claims that workers in precarious jobs have been forced to assume a greater risk of infection during the coronavirus crisis.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said: 'The Covid Public Inquiry must examine how the unchecked growth of precarious work has left millions vulnerable to the pandemic.

TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak (

Picture:

Newcastle Chronicle)

“Those in precarious employment faced significantly higher Covid infection and death rates and were hit with a triple whammy of endemic low pay, few workplace rights and little or no sick pay."

The TUC said workers in precarious jobs were twice as likely to die from coronavirus as those in more secure jobs.

A TUC analysis found that the male death rate from Covid-19 in precarious occupations was 51 per 100,000 people aged 20-64, compared to 24 per 100,000 people in less precarious occupations.

For women, the coronavirus death rate in precarious occupations was 25 per 100,000 people, compared to 13 per 100,000 in less precarious occupations.

Mr. Nowak said: "A lot of them were the key workers that we all applauded, like social workers, delivery drivers and coronavirus testing staff.