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Gig economy workers to get sick pay under Labour pledge

The party stated that it would create a new definition of “worker” to ensure everyone in employment has the same rights.

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It has emerged that all workers for direct employers to those in the gig economy would be eligible for specific rights and benefits as part of new plans announced by Labour.

 

Under the plans, all workers would be granted sick pay, parental and holiday leave, and the minimum wage from day one of their jobs, reported the Guardian.

 

Labour explained that it would create a new definition of “worker” in law to ensure that everyone in employment has access to the same protections.

 

There are currently varied qualifying periods for rights such as statutory maternity, paternity, and shared paternal leave, adoption and flexible working requests.

 

However, Labour has stated that all workers should get rights immediately, whether they are employed or working in the gig economy.

 

Commenting on the pledge, Andy McDonald, Labour’s shadow employment secretary, said that this lack of basic rights can force working people into “poverty and insecurity”.

 

“Millions of workers are in insecure employment with low pay and few rights and protections, particularly key workers whose efforts got the country through the pandemic,” McDonald continued.

 

“This is terrible for working people, damaging for the economy, and as we have seen throughout the pandemic, devastating for public health.”

 

An extra six million people in insecure work would have access to sick pay under the pledge, which Labour hopes would help to solve the issue of some gig economy workers with Covid being reluctant to isolate due to concerns over money.

 

The shadow employment secretary added: “We need a new deal for working people. Labour would ensure that all work balances the flexibility workers want with the security they deserve.”

 

Under these proposals from the party, employees, contractors and those in bogus self-employment would have the same rights and access to benefits, while the genuinely self-employed would retain their status.

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