Tuesday, March 24, 2020

The Gig Economy Workers Forgotten

According to the Office for National Statistics, there are 5 million self-employed people in the UK, who make up 15% of the labour market. They feel they have been forgotten, after hearing about the latest financial measures announced by the UK government.
The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which represents gig economy workers, has announced that it is suing the government over its failure to protect the wages and jobs of millions of workers during the pandemic, as well as its failure to ensure the health and safety of those still employed through proper sick pay.
IWGB General Secretary Dr Jason Moyer-Lee said: "No one wants to be litigating right now. We all have extremely pressing things to be getting on with, but we also can't stand by and watch our members being driven into financial destitution because the government has simply forgotten about them. The low paid precarious workers must have the means to follow public health advice and continue to pay their bills and put food on the table. Right now, they don't."

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52005581

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