[IER] "This isn’t self-employment, or employment either. It’s a living hell": New, damning evidence on the gig economy
Sarah Glenister
sarah at ier.org.uk
Fri Jul 7 17:39:21 BST 2017
IER News Brief 07/07/17
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news brief
Friday 07th July 2017
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New, damning evidence from several sources has been released on the gig economy this week, just ahead of the expected publication of the Taylor Review.
Yesterday, former Committee Chair for Work and Pensions Frank Field released a report <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=9aa079c378&e=71131c031b> that contained interviews with "gig economy" workers at Parcelforce, DPD and British Car Auctions. He found that workers were being paid less than £2.50 per hour and getting fined hundreds of pounds for being ill.
A quote from a DPD driver republished by the Guardian said: "This isn't self-employment, or employment either. It's a living hell, a nightmare scenario and the government needs to bring in legislation to stop these crooks from ripping off vulnerable people."
Both Taylor and government sources have come out in support of the gig economy by saying that many workers enjoy the "flexibility" it offers them, but further evidence of exploitation this week puts this argument into question.
One study found that people on zero-hours contracts and shift workers are at a greater risk of mental health problems <http://ier.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=70d11ed899&e=71131c031b> than their peers in stable employment.
Meanwhile, ACAS reported that zero-hours contracts are being used to silence workers <http://ier.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=44501f6a23&e=71131c031b> who might otherwise assert their rights, and many have been forced onto the contracts rather than choosing insecure work.
The government itself has also been accused of attempting to silence workers this week, as the Justice Secretary applied to the High Court to permanently ban prison officers from industrial actions <http://ier.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f121e48a8bb6d3101590c12d3&id=e65225ee41&e=71131c031b> .
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Govt seeks permanent ban on industrial action in prisons
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Zero-hours contract workers 'at increased risk of poor mental health'
Workers on zero-hours contracts are at an increased risk of suffering from mental health problems than peers with stable jobs.
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Gig workers earning less than £2.50 an hour, new report reveals
Workers in the "gig economy" are earning less than £2.50 an hour, a new report by Labour Party MP Frank Field has shown.
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Deliveroo: We'll offer workers more rights if you change the law
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Zero-hours contracts used to silence exploited workers, ACAS says
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Unite the Union, London
This conference will discuss the threats to employment law posed by Brexit, as well as proposing ideas for how workers' rights can be protected and even improved upon during the negotiations with the EU, as well as in future trade deals.
Speakers include Keith Ewing, Diana Holland, Iain Birell, John Foster and Robin White.
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