The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has acknowledged that it underestimated the number of zero-hours contract workers in the UK and now estimates the figure to be 250,000, an increase of 25 percent. The contracts mean employees have no guaranteed set hours, holiday entitlement or sick pay. However, the new estimates are continuing to be questioned; the Minister of Care, Norman Lamb, has told the House of Commons that in the care sector in England alone, 307,000 people are on zero-hour contracts. Earlier this week, it was revealed that the UK retailer Sports Direct uses zero-hours contracts for its entire part-time workforce of 20,000, 90 percent of its employees. The chairman of the Business Select Committee, Adrian Bailey MP, said he is willing to hold an inquiry and summon the founder of Sports Direct, Mike Ashley, to Westminster if the government review proves to be insufficient. (The Guardian)
Supply Chain
Cargill registers concern with palm oil supplier about child labour allegations
The US environmental organisation, the Rainforest Action Network (RAN), and the Indonesian advocacy group Sawit Watch, claim to have found evidence of abusive recruitment and labour practices, including child labour, on palm oil plantations in Indonesia owned by the Malaysian palm oil supplier Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK). According to RAN, the US company Cargill received 31 shipments of palm oil from KLK, totalling more than 61 pounds in weight, over the past three years, with which the company has supplied several major food companies. Cargill said that they “have contacted KLK regarding these allegations to seek clarification” and to register their concern. This follows previous allegations of unethical practices in its supply chain from RAN in November 2012. Cargill has pledged to source 100 percent of its palm oil for development markets from Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) certified sources by 2015 and globally by 2020. (Food Navigator)
Environment
Global beer production cuts down on water and energy use
According to a global survey by the Dutch company Campden BRI and KWA on behalf of the Dutch Brewers Association, breweries have reduced their energy usage by over 17 percent and water usage by over 9 percent in the last four years. 250 breweries across 49 countries participated in the research, nearly a third of the world’s beer producers. The report states that the average water use fell from 5.2 hectolitres of water per hectolitre of beer to 4.3. The survey, which is conducted every four years, allows breweries to benchmark their energy and water consumption, highlighting what improvements are needed for producers to either meet the industry average or to achieve the gold standard status of being in the top ten percent of breweries. (Edie)
UK Government launches new offshore wind strategy
The UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has unveiled the Government’s offshore wind industry strategy, stating that the renewable energy resource had the potential to provide a large proportion of the energy needed to power the UK economy. The strategy outlines the Government's attempts to secure investment in the renewables sector. It looks to enable UK supply chain companies to develop the capability to meet the requirements of developers and top tier manufacturers and compete globally on cost and quality. However, highlighted challenges in the strategy include, the likely size and timing of future market demand, particularly past 2020, and ensuring potential inward investors understand the benefit of locating manufacturing facilities in the UK. (Edie)
Industry backs new £25 million sustainable fuels fund
The UK Department for Transport has announced £25 million of funding to enable the construction of demonstration-scale waste-to-fuel and other advanced biofuel plants in the UK. Industry has welcomed the plans, but has cautioned that the role of first generation fuels should not be dismissed. Companies are being asked to compete for the money by proposing new ideas for viable demonstration-scale plants that can advance the UK biofuels industry. The £25m million will be provided over three years from 2015, subject to EU State Aid approval. The Renewable Energy Association (REA) said the prize could help spur growth and jobs in the new industry. However, Clare Wenner, the REA's head of renewable transport, urged the Government to ensure a sufficient regulatory framework is in place to support the biofuels industry beyond 2020. (Business Green; Edie)
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