THE SNP is to take on the Westminster Parliament with an MP-led campaign to end zero hours contracts and other exploitation of workers.

Two SNP MPs, Stewart McDonald of Glasgow South and Chris Stephens of Glasgow South West, are both to introduce bills tackling exploitation.

Stephens will introduce a Fair Rights at Work Bill at Westminster that would put in place workplace protection for so-called gig economy workers.

He has been told he can present a Bill on workers’ rights to the House of Commons on October 18.

Stephens said his Bill would ensure anyone doing paid work is treated as an employee with full rights to holiday pay and other benefits, including those on zero hours contracts.

McDonald has already lodged his Private Member’s Bill which seeks to end exploitative, unpaid trial shifts for workers.

The SNP website announced the party’s bids to change the employment laws which are reserved to Westminster.

The SNP stated: “While Scotland now has a lower proportion of workers on zero-hours contracts than the UK average, too many people aren’t given the job security they deserve from their employer.

“Across the UK use of zero hour contracts, unpaid ‘trial’ periods, or bogus self-employment contracts are on the rise. The power to change this lies at Westminster. Yet it’s clear that the UK Government has no intention of taking the action required to deliver job security for all. That’s not good enough.

“We believe the exploitative use of these contracts where they are used just to avoid giving workers the protections they are due, should be banned.The SNP Government does not directly employ anyone on zero hours contracts and has introduced new guidance to ensure companies bidding for public sector contracts don’t use exploitative zero hours contracts.We’re encouraging businesses to commit to not using exploitative contracts through the Scottish Business Pledge.

The statement added: “The SNP has consistently argued for the full devolution of employment and equalities law, including minimum wage powers.

"If the Tories won’t take action at Westminster, we’ll get on with the job in the Scottish Parliament.”

Stewart MacDonald has taken up the case of people who are made to do work trials with no payment or guarantee of a job.

He said: “Unpaid trial shifts are exploitative to workers — particularly young people, students and migrants. If people are going to be offered a trial period where they apply their skills in the hope of securing work then they should be paid fairly and properly.

“Earlier this year I came across a company in Glasgow that was asking people to work a 40 hour working trial period for no pay and with no guarantee of a job at the end of it. And sadly I learned that this kind of abuse of people looking for work is common and widespread.

“The law in this area is incredibly grey. My Bill will make it clear that if a trial period is to be offered then the employer must pay up for that period whether or not a full offer of employment is made.”

The Better Than Zero campaign which is working to improve conditions in the hospitality industry has welcomed the bill.

Spokesperson Bryan Simpson said: “We are absolutely delighted that finally we are going to see legislation in place that will deal with this issue. This legislation will improve the lives of tens of thousands of hospitality workers across the country “We are looking forward to working with Stewart and also Chris Stephens, who is putting together a very exciting, even broader bill which tackles many issues relating to workers’ rights, from minimum pay to terms and conditions.”

Both bills could get support from all the opposition parties in the Commons, meaning Theresa May’s Government would need the support of the DUP to stop them becoming law.

Labour’s shadow Scotland Office minister Paul Sweeney said: “A symbol of the failure of the Tories’ economic plan is the proliferation of zero-hour contracts, which has helped fuel the low-wage, low-skill economy that is letting working people down and letting down Britain.

“Labour would ban zero hour contracts — so that every worker gets a guaranteed number of hours each week.”

Scottish Tory shadow economy secretary Dean Lockhart said: “The Taylor review on working practices commissioned by the UK Government has just reported its findings, and it is only right that the UK Government takes time to reflect on the recommendations.

“The UK, and Scotland should avoid over-regulation in the labour market, retain flexibility and become a home to innovation.

Lockhart continued: "The SNP should spend more time focusing on the powers that they do have at their disposal rather than endlessly complaining about the ones that they do not possess.’’