The British Council is facing accusations of exploiting hundreds of agency teachers who are on zero-hour contracts and forced to compete intensely for lesson bookings every week. An open letter from teaching staff reveals that the prestigious, government-funded organization does not provide regular hours to tutors on its English Online platform, which serves over 45,000 students worldwide. Instead, teachers in the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and India race against each other to secure lesson slots, which are released weekly and can be gone in minutes. This creates an unpredictable work environment where teachers can end up with no lessons at all if they encounter delays or technical issues.

Teachers used to be directly employed by the British Council but, after the pandemic, recruitment shifted to partner agencies. This change has raised concerns about exploitative practices spreading to the education sector, mirroring the gig economy’s issues seen in other industries. The government is currently moving to ban such exploitative contracts, requiring firms to offer a guaranteed minimum number of hours.

Teachers worry that the zero-hour contracts undermine job security and stability, with some facing income uncertainty and being forced to work late-night shifts due to limited availability. The Tefl Workers’ Union is advocating for better conditions for these educators, arguing that teaching should not come with such constant uncertainty. The British Council and Impellam, the recruitment company involved, defend their practices, claiming compliance with employment laws and the flexibility their model offers. However, the Foreign Office, which provides funding to the British Council, distanced itself, stating the Council is operationally independent and responsible for its employment practices.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/mar/15/british-council-teachers-gig-economy-tutors-exploiting