Context
Chris Bloore, with business experience as a chief executive, raised concerns about parcel couriers in his constituency being on bogus self-employment contracts, lacking holiday pay and sick leave. This issue is driving down standards across the sector and reducing national insurance contributions.
Question
I thank the Minister for her answer. She will know that too many parcel couriers in my constituency and across the country are on bogus self-employment contracts and worse terms and conditions, with no holiday pay or sick leave. That is driving down standards across the sector and, of course, robbing the public purse of national insurance contributions. I welcome her commitment to announcing the consultation on single worker status. Can she guarantee that both employer and employee representations will be included in the consultation?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Kate Dearden)
My hon. Friend raises an important issue, and I thank him for doing so. I agree that it is completely unacceptable for businesses to seek to undercut others in a race to the bottom through bogus self-employment. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and to avoid their own legal obligations by claiming that someone is self-employed when in reality they might not be. We will therefore consult on the changes to the status framework and our action to improve compliance, and we will of course engage with all stakeholders as part of that.
Not addressed: The Minister did not provide a specific guarantee regarding the inclusion of both employer and employee representations in the consultation.
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