Fears the first potential waterfront jobs could be “low paid” have led to calls to block any zero hours contracts.
The quality of jobs being brought into the waterfront development was questioned by members of the city’s poverty commission.
There has been much speculation after it was revealed the first two development plots were likely going to be a hotel and retailer.
Elizabeth Kane, community representative on the commission, said she had concern about whether the quality of jobs being brought to the city would really lead people out of poverty.
She said: “A lot of the good-paying jobs have gone.
“The council are now talking to two big companies coming into Dundee apparently a hotel and another which is described as a retailer. Those are not well-paid jobs.
“At least the council could stop them having zero hours contracts.”
Ms Kane pointed to the many unemployed men in their fifties and sixties who cannot get jobs to fit their skills.
She said: “A lot of people want something down the docks. They don’t want jobs in shops and hotels and bars.
“They want what they are used to industrial work in the city.”
Alison Henderson, chief executive of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, said: “The living wage is absolutely the right thing to do, but it is still a very low wage.
“Low-paid jobs are OK if you are living with your parents but not for a family to live on.”
Dundee City councillor Jimmy Black, who is also convener of the Fairness Commission, said that while the council is limited in what it can do to, it can encourage and promote fair work.
He said: “We are looking for companies who will provide high-quality jobs and will treat their employees well.
“We are limited in where we can control that but we will do all we can to ensure that the jobs are good and fair jobs.
“We are absolutely signed up to the fair work agenda and we want to discourage zero hours contracts and the minimum wage we want to see the living wage.
“It would be wrong to assume all the waterfront jobs will be low paid. There is nothing wrong with working in a hotel or catering industry.”
He added: “Dundee still has manufacturing jobs but it is clear the world is changing and it is hard to get jobs in these industries.
“It is important for people to be adaptable and it is never too late to learn new skills and retrain.”
Proposals for the first two waterfront development plots are expected to be considered by the council later this month.