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The announcement comes after the Prime Minister, Theresa May, commissioned Matthew Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts, in October 2016 to look at how employment practices need to change in order to keep pace with modern business models.
The team behind the Taylor Review into Modern Employment Practices will embark on a country-wide 'evidence gathering tour of the modern labour market' talking to employees and employers about the UK’s labour market.
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Three expert panel members have been appointed to support the six month review, bringing together expertise in the labour market, start-up businesses and public policy areas. The panel members announced today are:
- Paul Broadbent - Chief Executive of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA);
- Greg Marsh - Entrepreneur;
- Diane Nicol - Employment lawyer.
Matthew Taylor said: "I am delighted to announce the other members of the review team; they bring a wealth of experience and insight to our work. We have a lot of research and policy to discuss but the most important part of our process is getting out and about to talk to businesses and workers across Britain about their experiences of modern work.
"As well as making specific recommendations I hope the review will promote a national conversation and explore how we can all contribute to work that provides opportunity, fairness and dignity."
Self-employed
The review will consider the implications of new forms of work on worker rights and responsibilities - as well as on employer freedoms and obligations.
With 15 per cent of those working in the UK’s labour market now self-employed, there has been a rise in the number of people doing ‘gig’ work – short-term, casual work that is increasingly sought by people through mobile phone apps when they want to work. These roles can include driving, delivering items and DIY tasks.
The explosion of ‘disruptive’ businesses – where new ways of working and technology come together to create new products and services to better meet consumer demand – is also leading to a change in working practices.
Gig economy
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is also to launch a research project into the scale of the gig economy – the first piece of government-commissioned research into the practice. The project will also look at the motivations of people engaging in ‘gig’ work.
Business Minister Margot James said: "The Taylor review is a hugely important step towards us ensuring fairness for everyone in work. Helping us to understand what impact modern employment practices have on workers will inform our forthcoming industrial strategy and also help us ensure our labour market and wider economy works for everyone.
"We recognise the importance of being open to new and innovative ways of working – and having a skilled and flexible workforce is part of what makes the UK an attractive place to do business. But it is also crucial that workers receive a decent wage and that people working in all sorts of jobs are able to benefit from the right balance of flexibility, rights, and protections."
IPSE - 'Joined up'
Freelancer trade group, IPSE, called for 'joined-up' thinking from the relevant Government department and said that the reviews should shiner a light on the grey area within self-employment.
IPSE Director of Policy, Simon McVicker, said: “The past few years have seen dramatic shifts in the structure of our labour market and Theresa May should be applauded for attempting to grapple with the challenges this has presented. This Review presents a vital opportunity to provide clarity around how modern employment relationships should be treated in the employment and welfare system. It will also have huge implications for what it means to be self-employed, a worker or an employee.
“The majority of freelancers love what they do, and would not want to work any other way. However, there is a small minority who feel they have been forced into bogus self-employment, and the Review must examine those business models which risk exploiting people. If an individual is engaged like an employee, they must have employment protections.
“This way of working should remain a positive choice for individuals to make, and not risk being tarnished by a few unscrupulous companies. With the Department for Business’ review on the future world of work and rights of workers, and the Chancellor’s announcement of a review in self-employed taxation, there must be joined-up thinking from all Government departments on how the 4.8 million people who work for themselves are treated.
“An agreed definition of self-employment is essential. Business and Government need certainty over what self-employment is, otherwise confusion will remain.”
Full details of the Independent Review: Employment Practices in the Modern Economy
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Susie Hughes © Shout99 2016
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