A major campaign to end zero hours contracts has been launched by one of the country's biggest trade unions.

Kim Buckley has this report:

The Mandate Trade Union is calling for a ban on 'if and when' contracts and 'zero hour' contracts - where workers don't know from week to week what their hours and incomes will be or if they'll be working at all

The Union says says tens of thousands of workers in many sectors, including retail, hospitality and the media, are employed using them and can have their hours and income slashed from 400 to 160 euro a week

As part of its campaign, Mandate has launched a list of guidelines that company's can follow to give staff more job security.

The Banded hours contract Bill has already passed through the Dail and is at committee stage.