End unpaid overtime

Currently, workers can be contractually obliged to work unpaid overtime for their employers. Employers can demand that workers work for free in what should be their spare time, provided that their wages divided over their regular hours and additional overtime are above the national minimum wage. Many employers use contracts stipulating this excess overtime, clearly anticipating demanding more work from a worker than they intend to pay for. This exploitation would be illegal in many countries, and it should be illegal here. The Labour Party should campaign for, and agree if elected, to end this practice. Employees must be paid at least their regular wage for any overtime worked, or given appropriate time of in lieu. If any time of in lieu remains unclaimed at the end of an employee’s employment by that employer, the work must be paid for at or above the employee’s regular wage.