* Jonathan Bartley: ‘The Government should not bury its head in the sand and leave working people to fend for themselves in the face of rapid change.’
The Green Party has called for the Government to stop ‘burying its head in the sand’ after the Midcounties Co-op payout.
Jonathan Bartley, co-leader of the party, has urged the Government to re-open a review into employment status law launched by the Coalition which was shelved in 2014.
Bartley made the call after news Midcounties Co-op was breaching low pay laws and has made the highest single pay-out to a worker [1].
He said:
"It is welcome that the underpayments received by two Midcounties Co-op newspaper delivery men have been brought to an end. But it is alarming to hear that there are potentially another 200 cases that will be looked at.
"The Government cannot complacently sit back and settle for a piecemeal approach to addressing exploitation, which relies on the benevolence of employers, HMRC getting involved or campaigners to bring about change.
"Whether at Deliveroo, Hermes, or Sports Direct, a picture is emerging of an exploitative economy with unacceptable employment practices around low pay and insecurity. This will only grow in the expanding gig economy.
“The Government should not bury its head in the sand and leave working people to fend for themselves in the face of rapid change.
“It should re-open the inquiry shelved in 2014, to look at employment practices, and come forward with proposals to ensure everyone gets a wage they can live on, and security for the future."
Notes: