Gig workers have rights that need proper Law enforcement
Gig workers have several employment rights that need to be enforced, reveals some recent court trials. The dawn of modern work force including Uber and the Deliveroo, has called for protection of workers thereof.
Law Society, trade unions as well as Political parties have ventured to deduce best ways to tackle the almost non-existing employment rights of the ‘gig economy’. Minimum wage need to be set for self-employed gig workers to set up some legal wage grounds for gig economy, proposed Resolution Foundation during the panel discussion on the topic.
The analysis so far has revealed the blank-slate approach towards the situation during debate as meager amount of rights were being enjoyed by courier service providers and privately hired drivers. Gig economy has been unregulated and workers haven’t been entitled to any rights to employment this far.
Recent tribunals and other court cases have revealed that minimum wage rights for gig workers do exist in the law but they need to be enforced.
IWGB (Independent Worker Union of Great Britain) represents primarily the couriers as well as the privately hired drivers, along with Uber case claimants. It has called for greater employment rights for all the gig workers. The basic problem regarding employment rights of the ‘gig economy’ is lack in enforcement of prior laws.
David Metcalf, who is director of labor market law enforcement, is playing his part to bring greater attention as well as coordination towards labor market’s legislation’s enforcement. The strategy of enforcement is to focus upon improving effectiveness and efficiency of law enforcement agencies. Metcalf is seeking out novel powers for enforcement which include introducing employment rights like holiday pay or payslips for workers. For employee’s paid holiday right, the enforcement body can determine status of employment of the concerned individual.
There’s no guarantee though that whether Metcalf will be recommending extended enforcement powers and there’s no guarantee on part of government that whether it’ll grant some additional powers or provide the necessary resources. Beyond being stuck with Tory government, the first annual labor market law enforcement strategy by Metcalf can be workers’ greatest hope for productive government action.
