Page 11 - Gi flipbook - November 2018

TUC study highlights low earnings She should ban zero-hours
contracts. And she should
and slams ‘sham’ self-employment give agency workers the
right to equal pay to stop
undercutting and encourage
employers to create more
earned on average £12,300 permanent jobs.”
compared with £21,600 for However, while the
those in employment – a Association of Independent
fall from £13,200 in 2015-16. Professionals and the Self-
TUC General Secretary Employed (IPSE) agreed that
Frances O’Grady said more protection was needed
although she recognised for the self-employed,
that self-employment was a Andy Chamberlain, Deputy
great option for some, it was Director of Policy, said:
TUC General Secretary “clear that it’s not working “The TUC’s limited analysis
Frances O’Grady for everyone, with millions does not chime with
of self-employed workers what the self-employed
stuck on poverty pay”. themselves say about their
ALMOST HALF OF self- in its figures, according to She added: “Too many experiences. Survey after
employed people aged over Personnel Today. workers have been forced survey tells us loud and
25 are earning less than the The TUC report claimed into sham self-employment clear that on average the
minimum wage, according that the two million people – like at Uber and Hermes. self-employed are happier
to new research. who were in low-paid self- It’s not about helping than employees, valuing
The TUC has published an employment were part of workers, it’s all about autonomy and flexibility.”
analysis indicating that up at least 3.7 million people companies dodging tax, Chamberlain added:
to two million people are in insecure jobs, with ducking the minimum wage “While we must protect
earning less than the hourly the remaining 1.7 million and denying workers their vulnerable workers, it
rate of £7.83 for over-25s, including agency workers, full rights. would be a mistake to
which it blamed largely on casual workers, seasonal O’Grady criticised conflate ‘bogus self-
“sham self-employment”. workers and others with the Prime Minister for employment’ with the
The representative body zero-hours contracts. not acting on the issue. ‘gig economy’ or wider
for the self-employed, The analysis, drawing “Theresa May promised self-employment – and
however, accused the on the ONS Labour Force to change things for ‘just then try to regulate these
TUC of conflating self- Survey (Q2, 2018) and the about managing’ families, ways of working into
employment with grey Family Resources Survey, but she’s done nothing. oblivion. That just hurts the
areas within the gig found that in 2016-17 (the She should be cracking overwhelming majority of
economy and including most up-to-date figures) down on businesses that people who actively chose
part-time self-employment self-employed people use sham self-employment. to work in this way.” ■

Two in five over-50s expect ill of the greatest strains on
Work pressures were one
health to force them out of work respondents’ physical and
mental health, alongside
money issues and pre-
existing medical conditions.
FOUR MILLION UK main reasons they stop found two in five (37 per Almost two in five (37
workers aged over 50 working, research has cent) felt their job could be per cent) over-50s workers
expect poor health and suggested. detrimental to their health admitted they often put
health problems to be the A poll by insurer Aviva and wellbeing, and more their job above their health
than half (53 per cent) did and wellbeing.
not feel supported by their Lindsey Rix, Managing
employer when it comes to Director of Savings and
their wellbeing. Retirement at Aviva, said:
The four million figure “Greater clarity and support
comes from 37 per cent of for health and wellbeing in
the estimated 10.21 million the workplace will prevent
over-50s currently in work. employees, especially those
Two-fifths of workers The survey of 2,497 UK closer to retirement, from
admit putting their jobs adults aged 16-75 included having to retire prematurely
before their health 1,219 over-50s, 520 of and avoid a drain of valuable
whom were still in work. skills and talent.” ■

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News.indd 6 18/10/2018 13:13