A recent study by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) highlights that a significant proportion of workers on zero-hours or variable contracts continue to hold these insecure positions for extended periods. The research indicates that over half of employees with such contracts stay with their employers for two years or more, while one in six remain in these roles for a decade or longer. TUC general secretary Paul Nowak has dismissed claims that zero-hours contracts are predominantly filled by students, stressing that most workers rely on them as their primary source of income. Union leaders have criticized attempts to weaken proposed employment protections, labeling criticisms of bans on exploitative contracts as scaremongering. The TUC and shopworkers' union Usdaw have called on the government to fully implement promised rights to guaranteed-hours contracts to provide financial security for low-paid workers. The findings underscore the long-term challenges faced by individuals trapped in precarious work arrangements, with calls for stronger regulatory measures to address systemic issues within the labor market.