CALLS are being made for zero-hour contracts to be scrapped for those who work for Gwynedd Council.

During the full council meeting Cllr Sion Jones, who represents Bethel on Gwynedd Council, asked the leader of the local authority, Cllr Dyfed Edwards, what was being done to ensure that zero-hour contracts are stopped in Gwynedd Council.

Cllr Jones said: “I would like to know what the leader is doing to ensure that zero-hours contracts are stopped in Gwynedd Council.

“Also we do have seasonal workers as well, some get full-time hours, some work 37 hours but unfortunately the contracts they have sometimes include filling in timetables so I see them as zero contracts too.

“If these workers want to get a mortgage from the bank, they can’t with that sort of contract.

“I would like to see promised within six months from today all zero contracts removed.”

Cllr Edwards said: “This council has members of staff employed on zero-hours contracts and they are all employed within the care services. This is a historical arrangement and no new employees have been appointed on this type of contract for over three years.

“In 2011/12, there were 338 of the council’s workers employed on zero hours contracts. This number had reduced to 81 by December last year following discussions with individual members that led to a number of them accepting part-time working hours. The numbers of this type of contract will reduce further in the coming weeks in light of the changes agreed upon recently with a group of support workers.

“The aim of completely eradicating zero--hours contracts is one which the council takes seriously. The significant reduction in the number employed on this type of contract during recent years is undoubted proof of this.”

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