The chairman of the Commons work and pensions select committee Frank Field has told a Downing Street review of modern working practices that all workers should benefit from a new “national standard of fair work in the gig economy”.
Mr Field has commented that the proposed national minimum standard – which would automatically extend to all workers in the gig economy – would prevent employment tribunals and HM Revenue and Customs from having to determine whether people are genuinely self-employed.
Gig economy workers would instead be automatically entitled to certain rights including at least four weeks’ notice from an employer of an intention to change working patterns or withdraw work and an income equivalent to the national minimum wage (after accounting for costs such as car insurance).
This proposal comes after the recent “gig economy” decisions confirming that service providers are workers and not self-employed.
