Government review into ‘gig economy’ criticised

A GOVERNMENT-ORDERED review into the employment rights of workers in the gig economy, which calls for better jobs to be created, has been attacked as “feeble.”

The review, headed by Matthew Taylor, a former adviser to Tony Blair, recommended a new category of worker called a “dependent contractor”, and said there should be “genuine two-way flexibility”, giving workers additional protections.

The report by Mr Taylor, the head of the Royal Society of Arts, said lowpaid workers should not be “stuck” at the living wage minimum, or face insecurity.

Speaking at its launch in London, Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to promise that the Government will act “to ensure that the interests of employees on traditional contracts, the self-employed and those people working in the ‘gig’ economy are all properly protected”.

But she will insist that Britain must avoid “overbearing regulation”, retain flexibility in the labour market and remain “a home to innovation, new ideas and new business models”.

Unions and employment lawyers criticised the report, which has taken nine months to produce, for doing little to help the growing number of workers in delivery and taxi firms such as Deliveroo and Uber.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “I worry that many gig economy employers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning.

“From what we’ve seen, this review is not the game-changer needed to end insecurity and exploitation at work. We’d welcome any nuggets of good news, but it doesn’t look like the report will shift the balance of power in the modern workplace.”