Think Tanks Urge Andy Burnham to Prosecute Gig Companies

The Fabian Society and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation are urging Prime Minister Andy Burnham to prosecute gig economy companies that utilize bogus self-employment practices. In a joint report, the organizations claim these practices deny statutory rights to approximately 4 million workers, including protections against unfair dismissal, redundancy pay, and parental leave.

The report calls on the Fair Work Agency to use its civil proceedings powers to target companies avoiding employment obligations. To prevent lengthy legal battles over basic rights like the minimum wage, the organizations propose shifting the burden of proof regarding employment status from the worker to the employer.

While the Labour government has introduced the Employment Rights Act to ban exploitative zero-hours contracts, it has not yet implemented a single worker status for those who are not genuinely self-employed. A government spokesperson stated the administration is committed to consulting on employment status and will consider how the Fair Work Agency can apply its civil proceedings power to ensure workers receive their entitled rights.