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A Glasgow MP has lodged a Private Members' Bill to Parliament to seek to stop unpaid trial shifts in the hospitality industry.

SNP MP Stewart McDonald presented the Bill to fellow MPs on Monday in a bid to 'outlaw' unpaid trial working periods which have dominated the industry for years.

Campaign group Better than Zero, a worker's rights group in Glasgow, have been fighting for over a year to try and stop the exploitation of these workers.

Together the group and the Glasgow south MP hope to improve the lives of thousands across the country.

Ahead of presenting the Bill, Stewart McDonald MP 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.





"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.

"This consultation is seeking the views of people who want to tell me what they think about this practice and how they would like to see it change and offer people better protection in the workplace."

Bryan Simpson from Better than Zero said the issue is close to their hearts and one they are looking forward to working with Mr McDonald on.

He added: "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.

"The very fact that politicians want to sit down and talk to us and work with us is testament to the incredible work put in by Better Than Zero volunteers over the past 18 or so months.

"As important as changing the law is, we need to change the exploitative culture which permeates the hospitality industry.

"This is why we will continue to campaign to transform the industry alongside the workers within it."