Citizens Advice has responded to news that MPs have launched an inquiry into pay and working conditions in the UK to reflect growing concerns about the rise of casual employment, agency work and the informal gig economy.
Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:
“It is good MPs are to shine a spotlight on non-permanent work.
“As many as 4.5 million people are in insecure work, and while a lot of people value the flexibility that agency, casual and self-employed work can offer, some are taking these jobs as a last resort or are being shortchanged as they’re put on these contracts when they should be directly employed by the company.
“For many the knock-on effect is that they don’t have a steady income, meaning they go from one month to the next not knowing how much they will be paid. They can also lose out on holiday and sick pay.
“We urgently need clearer rules around employment status, including a legal definition of self-employment. The government should also consider the introduction of an effective online test people could use which would determine whether or not they are self-employed.
“The independent review of modern employment will provide a welcome opportunity to tackle the challenges brought by insecure work. We are keen to share our evidence and expertise with the business, energy and industrial strategy committee as well as Matthew Taylor’s review, so we can work together to find simple, enforceable solutions which balance the needs of workers, employers and consumers.”
Notes to editors