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GE15: What the election means for freelancers
by Susie Hughes at 11:45 08/05/15 (Political News)
After a night of election surprises and shocks, the road to number 10 will be lined with a blue carpet; Labour has red faces along with their rosettes; the Lib-Dems yellow is looking decidedly washed out; UKIP became UCAN'T; and the Saltire flies higher and higher...but what might it mean for contractors.

Some of the professional bodies and industry representatives have been collecting their thoughts about the implications of a Conservative majority Government.

APSCo - recognition for the flexible workforce
Agency body, the Association of Professional Staffing Companies called for a regulatory framewoerk which differentiated highly paid freelance professionals and put them outside of the regulations which are designed to protect vulnerable workers. They also want a junior Minister appointed with specific responsibility for 'flexible staffing'.

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Samantha Hurley from APSCo said: “Having engaged extensively with the previous coalition Government, we look forward to working with this new Conservative administration to continue to call for future policy that reflects the diversity of the recruitment sector. In terms of the labour market, we hope that this Government will continue to balance the needs of business and the economy in general with the protection of potentially vulnerable workers.

"We will specifically be pushing for a new regulatory framework that differentiates highly paid, highly skilled professionals, putting them outside the regulation that has clearly been designed to protect vulnerable workers. Allied to this, we will pursue the appointment of a junior minister with a specific remit over flexible staffing – as per our manifesto.

"We will also welcome the continuation of the work undertaken in incentivising fair and transparent payment practices, and the removal of contractual barriers, which stop businesses from accessing affordable finance, with the aim of working towards tackling the highly-specific issues within the professional recruitment sector.

"We believe that Government needs to move away from thinking about traditional permanent employment as the only valid form of engaging staff and should recognise and value the many different types of engagement being utilised in today’s market – and crucially, understand the various motivations driving these.

"It is also crucial that any labour market strategy acknowledges the major differences within the UK recruitment sector. Access to highly skilled, professional talent, supplied in the main through business to business arrangements requires a different legislative programme, to that required for the attainment of low-paid, potentially vulnerable workers.

"We would urge the new Government to understand the desire of highly paid, knowledge based professionals to create portfolio careers and indeed protect UK plc’s capability to access the professional talent which is essential to its success.

"Obviously the results in Scotland have inexorably changed the political landscape north of the border and it remains to be seen what will happen in the Scottish elections next year. We will continue to engage with the SNP over the coming year to ensure that they have a clear understanding of the professional recruitment sector

"We firmly believe that our country’s global competitiveness is inexorably linked to the continued development and flexibility of its labour market.”

Parasol - good news
Professional umbrella employer Parasol has hailed the general election result as a positive outcome for the UK’s contractor workforce and staffing industry.

Parasol founder and chief executive Rob Crossland said: “While no party has a monopoly on wisdom when it comes to our sector, this result boosts the prospects for the stability, continuity and certainty craved by professional contractors and recruiters.

“From tax to regulation and employment legislation, the Conservative manifesto was the most pro-business and pro-job creation. David Cameron and George Osborne now have the mandate to implement their pledges.

“Labour’s negative rhetoric regarding the recruitment industry and umbrella companies demonstrated an alarming misunderstanding of our sector, and the arrival of Ed Miliband at 10 Downing Street would have worried many contractors.

“As one of Britain’s largest contractor employment providers, we look forward to engaging in a positive and constructive dialogue with the new Tory administration – for example on travel and subsistence tax relief reforms.

“The one cloud on the horizon is the prospect of an EU referendum, which threatens to cause uncertainty in the business community and negatively impact on investment and job creation. Mr Cameron must set out his agenda on Europe swiftly and ensure this does not happen.”

IPSE - stability
Freelance and self-employed group, IPSE, welcomed the stability a majority Government would bring.

Chris Bryce, Chief Executive at IPSE, said: “A majority Government brings stability and certainty that is good for business. We look forward to working with the new Government, and all of the parties to best serve the UK’s 4.5 million self-employed.

“IPSE has an excellent working relationship with the Conservative Party, as indicated by the appointment of an Ambassador to the self-employed. We hope the Ambassador’s role can grow into a ministerial role in the new Parliament to reflect the increasing importance of the self-employed to the UK’s economy.

“The Conservative Party took up many of IPSE’s ideas in their manifesto and we look forward to seeing these implemented. A new business conciliation service would help address some of the issues stemming from late payments and we hope to play a leading role in contributing to reviews on how, mortgages, pensions and maternity and paternity pay could work better for the self-employed in the new Parliament."

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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2015

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GE15: What the election means ... Susie Hughes - 8/05
    Re: GE15: What the election me... Wilberforce - 11/05

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