According to the GMB union, almost a third of the UK workforce are employed in the gig economy, without access to secure employment.
Those in the gig economy tend to be on zero- or short hours contracts, are temporary workers, the underemployed and are those at risk of false self-employment, all of which can lead to a heavy impact on health and family life.
“This paints a shocking picture of the modern world of work. Up to 10 million people go to work either not knowing what their hours are, if they’ll be able to pay the bills, or what their long-term prospects are,” said Tim Roache, the GMB’s general secretary.
“That’s a sorry state of affairs in the 21st century and a product of government’s failure to tackle bogus self-employment, the use of agency contracts as a business model and point-blank refusal to ban zero-hours contracts.” he continued.
The gig economy is an important issue for many parties in the upcoming election.
The Conservatives have suggested many times that they have few issues with the gig economy. They have reduced employment rights, introduced employment tribunal fees and lobbied the mayor of London for Uber.
The Liberal Democrats hold similar policies surrounding the issue. One key difference, however, is that they are calling to end the employment tribunal fees. The abolishment of the fees would help hold employers to account who bogusly class their workers as independent contractors.
In Labour’s manifesto, there are clear proposals for employment rights in the gig economy. Labour hopes to extend all rights enjoyed by employees to workers, eliminate the controversial tribunal fees, whilst also setting up a commission to review and modernise employment status definitions.
Labour’s commission will be “led by legal and academic experts with representation from industry and trade unions”.