Agencies

London

Large firms should sign up to a “tough code of conduct” to prevent them exploiting workers on zero-hours contracts, Ukip leader Nigel Farage has said.

He claimed cheap labour “flooding in from abroad” had left big employers in an increasingly powerful position to dictate terms for workers.

But Farage acknowledged that the flexibility of zero-hours contracts, which do not guarantee regular work, suited some firms and employees and said he did not believe in banning the arrangements.

It is the latest sign of Farage’s efforts to target working class voters and woo support away from Labour in the run-up to next month’s European elections.

Ed Miliband has promised Labour will regulate zero-hours contracts if he becomes prime minister and a government review of the issue is expected to report in July.

In a Daily Express column Farage said: “With so much cheap labour flooding in from abroad, giant corporations are in an increasingly powerful position to dictate terms and conditions for workers.” He added: “Unlimited immigration from eastern Europe and elsewhere has left many British working people pretty much defenceless against constant downgrades in their pay and employment conditions.”

Farage said that while having a zero-hours contract as an option was appropriate for some workers “having it as the only available form of work is quite another”.

“And keeping people on zero-hours contracts for year after year when they aspire to stable employment so that they can provide for their families is something else again.

“I do not believe in banning zero-hours contracts. But I do believe there is a very strong case for expecting large employers to sign up to a tough code of conduct as to how they are applied.

“For instance, if an employee proves reliable enough to be working for a big company for a year or more then there should be an expectation that the company will offer him or her a permanent position.”

Farage: targeting working class voters