THE number of workers in the North-East on zero hours contracts has rocketed in the last year, new figures show.

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), which have been analysed by the GMB Union, show the number of people on the controversial contracts in the region is now 58,000, a rise of 78 per cent in the last 12 months.

That figure is more than double those who were on a zero hour contract at the end of 2014, which was just 28,000.

Billy Coates, GMB Regional Secretary said the figures were “outrageous”.

“Zero hours means zero certainty, zero security and zero ability to plan your life, your future, your family’s finances because from one week to the next, people don’t know how much is going to be on their next pay slip.

“People deserve more certainty and control in their working lives, not getting their hours texted to them the day of their shift, with no ability to plan around caring responsibilities, public transport or having any kind of a social life.

Redcar MP Anna Turley called the rapid increase a “scandal”.

“People need certainty in their working hours and in their finances - they shouldn’t have to wake every day not knowing whether they will get any work at all.

“Too many families are living with this insecurity and it is not acceptable in this day and age.

“This is the result of a Government which doesn’t understand the daily struggles people are facing just to get by - they have sat on their hands and allowed insecurity to flourish.”

Tom Blenkinsop, MP for Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland, described the findings as “shocking”.

“Good quality, well paid jobs from the SSI site, oil industry and public sector have been replaced with unsecure, poorly paid and low-skilled work.

“It’s a disgrace but not surprising that the Government clearly doesn’t have plan for how to bring better jobs back to Teesside or to help those struggling on zero hour contracts.”