The Green Party has responded to news this morning that the gig-economy is thought to cost the Government £4billion in lost taxes. [1]
Jonathan Bartley, Green Party co-leader, said:
“The news that insecure work is hurting public finances reinforces what we already knew – insecure work is bad for everyone.
“The gig-economy offers flexibility but in reality leaves workers without basic rights and vulnerable to exploitation. Add to this the lost tax revenue which could be supporting greater social security or the NHS, and it's clear that the Government has been left standing by a rapidly changing world. It needs to get a grip on the gig-economy.”
The news comes just days after pressure from the Green Party saw the Government finally publish (on February 10) a report into employment status law which was completed more than a year ago. [2]
Bartley added:
“The extent of the Government’s apathy and inertia was revealed last week when it finally published the Coalition’s shelved review into employment status law, which warned back in 2015 that gig-economy workers were at risk.
“While Tory ministers shamefully sat on the findings of the report workers everywhere have been living with increasing insecurity. People need jobs they can build a life on, and they need them now.”
Notes: