On Tuesday 8 June, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Labour Markets gave a statement to the House of Commons on employment rights. Stephen spoke in the following debate about workers in the gig economy.
Earlier in the year, the Supreme Court ruled that Uber drivers must be treated as workers rather than self-employed, making them entitled to basic rights such as the national minimum wage and holiday pay. The Government have said that the courts are independent and that it will not intervene in their rulings.
In the debate in the House of Commons, Stephen asked the Minister – Paul Scully – when the Government is likely to bring forward the “long promised” Employment Bill, so that legislation can be implemented to provide security to all workers. The Minister responded: “the Employment Bill will come forward when Parliamentary time allows.”
Speaking after the debate, Stephen said “the Supreme Court’s ruling was a victory for working people and testament to the hard work of the GMB union. However, the Government should not leave it to workers to fight for their basic rights through the courts.
I hope the Government brings forward the Employment Bill urgently, to ensure protection for the millions of people in the gig economy in insecure work.”
You can watch Stephen’s full contribution below.