IPSE welcomes Taylor Review focus on self-employment
- 14 Feb 2017
IPSE has responded to comments made by Employment Review chair Matthew Taylor, who highlighted the need to distinguish between vulnerable and career freelancers.
Simon McVicker, IPSE Director of Policy and External Affairs, commented: “Freelancers value the flexibility of being their own boss above all else. They get to work when, how and often where they want. These one-person businesses are vital to the economy, ensuring firms can adapt to peaks and troughs in demand. As Mr Taylor points out, more people working this way is undoubtedly a positive.
“However, some unscrupulous business are exploiting self-employed workers to deny them the employment protections they deserve. This review should explore how Government can clamp down on these companies, which are giving self-employment a bad name.
“At the same time, those who freelance through choice, not necessity – making up the vast majority of the UK’s 1.91 million independent professionals – must be supported through better pension provision, flexible financial solutions and access to training opportunities.
“It’s essential that Government refines its own definitions of self-employment, so everybody’s thinking is aligned. Policymakers must then put the Taylor Review’s recommendations into action. The Government-commissioned Deane Review on self-employment, which made a number of suggestions for better policy last year, has thus far been ignored. The Taylor Review has to be different.”
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