Zero-hours contracts could be banned in Dundee after an audacious appeal to change national laws.
Councillor Richard McCready has written to the Scottish Government’s social justice secretary Alex Neil to demanded that Scots Law be changed so planners can stop new employers using the controversial practice.
The bid comes after the West End member was told it would be “illegal” to try and stop retail tycoon Mike Ashley using zero-hours contracts at his £5 million store and gym in Lochee.
Mr McCready said: “I want to bring jobs to our city, everyone knows that they are needed and that not enough has been done recently to bring jobs to Dundee.
“But we cannot have jobs at any price.”
In March, data from the Office of National Statistics showed that Sports Direct was responsible for employing nearly one in every five workers in the retail and wholesale sector on a zero hours contract.
Mr McCready had tried to add a condition to the high-street chain’s application at the Stack Leisure Park, calling on them to not use zero-hours contracts in the city but his request was refused.
The Labour member said: “At the development management committee I asked whether we could include a condition about the employment practices of Sports Direct I was told that this would be illegal.
“I am opposed to zero-hours contracts and think that legislation should deal with them, with a review of the law, and that is why I have written to Alex Neil.
“I am asking that he reviews the law to allow us to include issues such as opposition to zero-hours contracts in our decisions.”
“It makes no sense for the council to take a stance, as it has, against poor employment practices and then be unable to say anything about them when it comes to planning issues.”
The Scottish Government said it was doing everything possible to discourage inappropriate use of zero hours contracts, but said terms of employment were not matters for the planning system.
Sports Direct did not respond to requests for comment.