Can we really have a life without work?

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Contingency planning such as that occurring this week at Bletchley Park is valuable (AP)

Elon Musk is prophesising that AI will eventually remove the need for humans to work. He is probably referring, of course, only to the minority of the 8 billion that live in advanced economies and, even in this case, likely not to be all-inclusive. We’ve been here before, of course, and we’ve been unsurprised but thankful that such prophecies have proven to be premature.

However, contingency planning such as that occurring this week at Bletchley Park is valuable. And should Musk be right, planning should extend to an evaluation of what life will be like without work in order to prepare for the social and psychological challenges of constant leisure.

Ian Reid

Kilnwick

No consequence for the Tories

With regards to the Covid inquiry, let us not forget Helen MacNamara’s evidence that Brexit had been a “monomaniacal focus” of Boris Johnson’s government. He was obsessed with “getting Brexit done” in the middle of a pandemic, throughout which negotiations for withdrawal continued despite the risks to negotiators’ health and wellbeing. This must also account for the rubbish deals and many mishandlings with PPE.

The disagreeable attitude of Johnson’s team towards European negotiators is no doubt a reflection of our state of government during this time. No wonder the lives of our elderly citizens were of no consequence to the Tory government.

Simon Fisher Sellindge

Kent

We need more answers

Another excellent article (Just blaming ‘mad and bad’ Boris over Covid is a cop-out). Mary Dejevsky is to the point and thought-provoking as ever.

The Independent’s coverage of this inquiry is very good. But we perhaps need a series of deeper probes into why there was almost no preparation for a predictable pandemic. Particularly, given the history in southeast Asia.

We also need to understand the failure of the Nightingale centre plan. It seemed a good approach to me, why was it abandoned?

Mark Ogilvie

Horncastle

Eliminate zero-hours contracts

I am deeply concerned over the alarming disparities in zero-hours contracts, as highlighted in The Independent’s recent article.

These figures, revealing that Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BME) women are nearly three times as likely to be on zero-hours contracts as white men, underscore the pressing need for action to address the structural inequalities in our job market.

The data analysis from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by marginalised communities in the workforce. Zero-hours contracts, characterised by low pay, variable hours and a lack of workers’ rights and protections, have become a troubling reality for a significant portion of our population. The rise in the number of people on such contracts, particularly among BME workers, reflects what the TUC aptly calls “structural racism in the jobs market”.

In the face of these disparities, organisations like the Borgen Project have been diligently working to alleviate poverty and promote economic equity. Their mission aligns with the urgency of addressing issues like zero-hours contracts, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. It is crucial to support initiatives that aim to create a more just and equitable society. The impact of these contracts extends beyond financial insecurity; it affects workers’ ability to plan their lives, provide for their families, and access essential services. Vulnerable workers, often women with caring responsibilities, face the brunt of this injustice. It is imperative that we advocate for their rights and strive for a fair and secure job market that benefits all.

We must encourage government and policymakers to take this matter seriously and work toward the elimination of zero-hours contracts. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and equitable job market that ensures fair treatment for all workers, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, or gender.

Aishat Adeyemo

Borgen Project Ambassador