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Taylor Review: All work in UK economy should be fair | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
All work in the UK's economy should be "fair and decent", a government review of employment practices has said. | |
The report's author, Matthew Taylor, said "fairness demands" that people, particularly those on lower incomes, had routes to progress in work. | |
Among the issues covered by the report is employment in the gig economy. | |
The report recommends that firms which control and supervise their workers should pay a range of benefits, including National Insurance. | |
Mr Taylor also suggested that cash payments should be phased-out. | |
He said cash jobs such as window cleaning and decorating were worth up to £6bn a year and many were untaxed - something Mr Taylor says should be addressed. | |
Mr Taylor's report recommends a new category of worker called a "dependent contractor", who should be given extra protections by firms such as Uber and Deliveroo. | Mr Taylor's report recommends a new category of worker called a "dependent contractor", who should be given extra protections by firms such as Uber and Deliveroo. |
It also says low-paid workers should not be "stuck" at the minimum living wage or face insecurity. | It also says low-paid workers should not be "stuck" at the minimum living wage or face insecurity. |
Earlier, Mr Taylor told the BBC: "In my view there is too much work particularly at the bottom end of the labour market that is not of a high enough quality. | |
"There are too many people not having their rights fully respected. | "There are too many people not having their rights fully respected. |
"There are too many people at work who are treated like cogs in a machine rather than being human beings, and there are too many people who don't see a route from their current job to progress and earn more and do better." | |
Cashless economy | Cashless economy |
He said his aim was not to change the working landscape for those who wanted to work flexibly: "If people want to clock on and earn a few extra quid we don't want to stop that," he told the BBC. | |
"We don't want to ban zero hours [contracts] - many people who work zero hours want to do so." | "We don't want to ban zero hours [contracts] - many people who work zero hours want to do so." |
But he said working platform providers such as Uber had to demonstrate that workers signing on for hours of work would "easily clear" the minimum wage. | But he said working platform providers such as Uber had to demonstrate that workers signing on for hours of work would "easily clear" the minimum wage. |
Mr Taylor also said he did not want to ban cash payments outright, but hoped, over time, the increasing popularity of transaction platforms such as PayPal and Worldpay would see a shift from cash-in-hand work. | Mr Taylor also said he did not want to ban cash payments outright, but hoped, over time, the increasing popularity of transaction platforms such as PayPal and Worldpay would see a shift from cash-in-hand work. |
"In a few years time as we move to a more cashless economy, self employed people would be paid cashlessly - like your window cleaner. At the same time they can pay taxes and save for their pension," he said. | "In a few years time as we move to a more cashless economy, self employed people would be paid cashlessly - like your window cleaner. At the same time they can pay taxes and save for their pension," he said. |
"Most people who do pay for self-employed labour would like to know that that person is paying their taxes." | "Most people who do pay for self-employed labour would like to know that that person is paying their taxes." |
'Exploited' workers | 'Exploited' workers |
However, Labour's shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said the review did not go far enough for the 4.5 million people in insecure work. | However, Labour's shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said the review did not go far enough for the 4.5 million people in insecure work. |
She told the BBC's Today programme: "If it looks like a job or it smells like a job then it is a job, and the worker should be employed, and I think in those those situations where a worker is carrying out work on behalf of an employer... they should not be exploited as a flexible workers." | She told the BBC's Today programme: "If it looks like a job or it smells like a job then it is a job, and the worker should be employed, and I think in those those situations where a worker is carrying out work on behalf of an employer... they should not be exploited as a flexible workers." |
Trade unions also said Mr Taylor had not tackled many of the issues facing workers. | |
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "From what we've seen, this review is not the game-changer needed to end insecurity and exploitation at work." | TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "From what we've seen, this review is not the game-changer needed to end insecurity and exploitation at work." |
Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, called it a "disappointing missed opportunity". | Tim Roache, GMB general secretary, called it a "disappointing missed opportunity". |
Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning | Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning |
Do you work in the gig or "cash in hand" economy? Or maybe you're on a zero hours contract? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |