The Labour Party has also pledged to end “exploitative” zero-hour contracts and “one-sided flexibility” if it wins this week’s election. However, Labour’s measures would not automatically apply in Northern Ireland, as employment law is largely devolved.

Zero-hour contracts, mainly used in the hospitality and retail sectors, allow employers to hire staff without guaranteeing hours of work.

Previously, Sinn Féin MLA Jemma Dolan introduced a private member’s bill in 2021 to reform zero-hour contracts. While it did not propose an outright ban, it suggested a right to request banded hours for greater job security. It remains unclear if Mr. Murphy’s proposals will follow a similar approach.

Mr. Murphy is also expected to announce other employment law reforms. During the scrutiny of Ms. Dolan’s bill, MLAs learned that around 11,000 workers, or about 1.3% of Northern Ireland’s workforce, were on zero-hour contracts. Some stakeholders indicated this figure could be higher, as many workers’ employment statuses might not be recognized as zero-hour contracts.