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Single Status of Worker — [Clive Efford in the Chair]
15 April 2026
Lead MP
Justin Madders
Ellesmere Port and Bromborough
Lab
Responding Minister
Kate Dearden
Tags
EmploymentBusiness Compliance
Word Count: 8970
Other Contributors: 9
At a Glance
Justin Madders raised concerns about single status of worker — [clive efford in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should open a consultation on employment status this spring and set out a timeline for delivering change towards a single status of worker to simplify the system and ensure fair treatment of working people.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The Government's commitment to a single status of worker is noticeably absent, despite pledges made during the last election. The current employment status system is overly complicated and outdated, leading to issues such as bogus self-employment, which undermines fair competition and workers' rights. Recent gig economy trends have exacerbated these problems, with more than 4 million people in insecure work by the end of the previous administration, half of whom were low-paid self-employed individuals likely not genuinely self-employed.
Andrew Griffith
Con
Arundel and South Downs
Griffith acknowledged the importance of improving em [2D [K employment rights but cautioned against rapid legislative changes due to po [2D [K potential negative impacts on employment rates among young people. He calle [5D [K called for a cautious approach, emphasizing the need for a thorough consult [7D [K consultation before proceeding with further legislation.
Andy McDonald
Lab
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Mr McDonald supports the Government's direction on e [1D [K employment rights but urges for faster implementation of a single status of [2D [K of worker. He highlights that artificial self-employment undermines workers [7D [K workers' basic protections and the Exchequer, with estimated lost revenues [K of £10 billion per annum according to TUC research.
Antonia Bance
Lab
Tipton and Wednesbury
I thank my hon. Friend for giving way, noting the co [2D [K competitive disadvantage faced by employers who follow ethical employment p [1D [K practices compared to those that do not, citing evidence from Royal Mail an [2D [K and the British Hairdressing Association.
Redditch
He discussed the three-tier system of employment sta [3D [K status, highlighting that it is overly complex and often unclear. Christoph [9D [K Christopher Bloore argued that approximately 4 million people in the UK are [3D [K are in insecure work, including those on zero-hours contracts or in precari [7D [K precarious self-employment. He emphasized that companies relying on insecur [7D [K insecure models can undercut responsible employers, leading to a race to th [2D [K the bottom, which ultimately harms workers and weakens the economy.
Ian Lavery
Lab
Blyth and Ashington
Ian Lavery criticised the Conservative government's [K approach to trade unions, arguing that it led to the gig economy with insec [5D [K insecure employment. He highlighted legal underpinnings from Acts in 1992 a [1D [K and 1996 which defined two levels of employment status: employee and worker [6D [K worker, leading to exploitative use of casual labour. Lavery pointed out ec [2D [K economic effects such as replacement of good jobs by low-paid ones and lack [4D [K lack of investment due to cheap labour.
Jayne Kirkham
Lab Co-op
Truro and Falmouth
Asked about maintaining seasonal employment flexibil [8D [K flexibility under the new Employment Rights Act, addressing misconceptions [K regarding self-employment status for young people.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Emphasised the need for balance in implementing a si [2D [K single status of worker to avoid disadvantaging small businesses. Raised co [2D [K concerns about economic reality and flexibility, noting that limb (b) worke [5D [K worker status offers compromise for business owners.
Joshua Reynolds
Lib Dem
Maidenhead
Reynolds highlighted the inadequacies of current emp [3D [K employment laws and advocated for a dependent contractor status that would [K provide essential rights to individuals working under precarious conditions [10D [K conditions. He emphasized the need for tax and national insurance alignment [9D [K alignment, shifting the burden of proof in disputes from workers to employe [7D [K employers, urgent attention to pension provision for gig economy workers, a [1D [K and higher minimum wage standards for zero-hours contracts.
Tahir Ali
Lab
Birmingham Hall Green and Moseley
Supported the need for union recognition to protect [K workers' rights in small organisations, highlighting historical context of [K trade unions improving working conditions.
Government Response
Kate Dearden
Government Response
I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing the debate, highlighting that employment rights legislation needs updating due to changes in the world of work. The Minister agrees that changing the employment status framework is necessary for vulnerable workers and acknowledges challenges with enforcement and complex case law. A dedicated hidden economy team within the Fair Work Agency will take action from April to tackle illegal working and tax status breaches. A consultation on plans to address employment status problems will be published, considering how to improve compliance so everyone gets their entitled rights.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.