Ed Miliband has announced plans which would end 'exploitative' zero-hour contracts, if they win the general election in May. The Labour leader has touted for months that he would oversee a change in zero-hour contracts and details of those changes have been released today on the third day of election campaigning.
After twelve weeks, employees would have the right, if they wanted, to have their zero-hours contract swapped for a regular worker contract. According to the Office of National Statistics there are around 1.8 million zero-hour contracts in the UK.
A zero-hours contract means an employee does not know what day or time they will work, and could go weeks without earning any money. Many contracts don't allow you to work with another company either, which Labour have said would also change.
Labour announced on Tuesday it would raise the minimum wage to £8 by 2020. Sherlock star Martin Freeman has come out in support of Labour, saying "There is only one choice, and choose Labour." He appeared in Labour's first TV party political broadcast ad.
Meanwhile, the Conservative leader David Cameron has received backing from 100 business leaders. In a letter published in the Daily Telegraph, they backed the 20% reduction in corporation tax which came into force today.
Labour responded to the letter by focusing on small businesses, offering lower business rates. A number of those who signed previously backed Labour, the newspaper said.
Ed Miliband has said as well as cutting business rates, he would establish a 'British Investment Bank' which he hopes will boost lending to small businesses.
A national infrastructure would also be established to meet Britain's infrastructure needs in the future.
