In the PCG’s first ‘Manifesto for Freelancing’ which was submitted to government last week, they have called for “fairness, clarity, and recognition” for the UK’s freelance workforce.
Fairness, because the “iniquitous” IR35 tax legislation puts an “unreasonable” burden and stress on freelancers, and loses the economy an estimated £1.2billion a year.
Clarity, because the distinction of who is, and who is not, an employee is unclear, as is the distinction between a ‘contract of service’ and a ‘contract for services.’
And recognition, because freelancers are a “unique sub-set of self-employed workers” who do not necessarily seek growth or employees and should be recognised as such.
The PCG think the government should create a new post of Minister for Freelancing, or nano-enterprise, to act as a champion of UK freelancing, at home and abroad. They want freelancing to be acknowledged as a business model and as such, feature on the small business remit rather than on the state’s employment and social agendas.
John Brazier, PCG’s managing director reflected: “We know that freelancing is helping business cope with the worst recession we have seen for 60 years. But this has to be a fair deal. Freelancing must be recognised as a legitimate business model. Measures such as IR35 continue to place an unfair burden on nano-businesses.”
Alongside the appointment of a minister for nano-enterprise, and the abolition of IR35, the group said it wanted the government to drop the proposed legislation on ‘income shifting.’
