Researchers at the University of Liverpool have published the first peer-reviewed study on workers using foodbanks in the UK. The study found that the main reason employed people are turning to foodbanks is the poor quality of available jobs.

The research involved speaking directly with foodbank users in Liverpool. It revealed that 65% of participants, including 76% of those of working age, said their food insecurity was due to jobs with unreliable hours, low pay, the difficulty of balancing insecure work with parenting, and the stress caused by poor-quality employment.

Lack of support

In this situation, the lack of adequate welfare support becomes a critical issue for workers trying to get by on low incomes. The study also found that changes to welfare policies since the pandemic, combined with weak employment rights, are making food insecurity more likely for workers in low-wage jobs.

“More workers than ever are using foodbanks,” the researchers explained. “This is a symptom of poor employment rights, which have led to record levels of insecure jobs, and strict trade union laws that limit workers’ ability to improve their working conditions.”

They also highlighted that recent welfare reforms are forcing more workers to accept any job, in any sector, under any conditions.

A worsening situation

Since the pandemic, a policy called “in-work progression” has made things worse. Low-wage workers must now either increase their hours or take on additional jobs to avoid losing benefits. This has pushed many into low-quality, unstable work, leaving them more dependent on welfare and at greater risk of food insecurity.

“Our research shows that workers facing food insecurity are not choosing to rely on welfare benefits,” the researchers stated. “Most of them see poor-quality jobs as the problem and want the jobs they take to be good enough to keep them from needing foodbanks.”

The study suggests that legal changes are needed to address this issue. The incoming Labour government has proposed measures, such as raising the minimum wage to reflect the cost of living, banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, and ensuring workers are paid for cancelled shifts. They also plan to give workers access to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal from the first day of employment.

However, the researchers warn that improving individual employment rights alone won’t be enough to end the need for foodbanks among workers. They recommend better enforcement of workers’ rights, stronger trade union representation in low-wage sectors, public education about workplace rights, free legal advice on employment issues, more collective bargaining, and a welfare system that doesn’t force workers into insecure jobs.

The last point is especially important. Current welfare policies, the researchers argue, are actually lowering the quality of jobs. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, has announced a goal of getting 2 million more people into paid work, requiring claimants to “take jobs when they are offered.” But the study suggests that this should only apply to jobs that provide a decent income, job security, and support for workers’ mental and physical health.