False self-employment

[SueEllen]

Deliveroo, who use couriers on bikes to deliver restaurant food to homes and businesses, has changed the T&C on it's couriers so they earn less. As a result the couriers protested on Friday and as a result:

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy insisted that workers must be paid the “national living wage” (NLW) of £7.20 an hour unless a court or HM Revenue and Customs defines them as self-employed.

Linky and linky

Delieveroo have also apparently have done this so unlike Uber, who are in court at the moment, they cannot be taken to court. However it's unenforceable.

[vetran]

why can't HMRC & others pursue this kind of tulip instead of suing sick people in their lounges?

SCUMBAGS!!!

About time some pro bono lawyer or the government took a few companies to court.

[SueEllen]

HMRC aren't the ones doing the court action it's the unions. It's in the union s interest (as well as ours) to ensure those on NMW aren't self-employed.

[vetran]

HMRC aren't the ones doing the court action it's the unions. It's in the union s interest (as well as ours) to ensure those on NMW aren't self-employed.

the companies are avoiding paying tax so I think HMRC should get involved. Glad the unions are involved but many of these companies require a union free workforce. Something should be done to save these desperate people.

[SueEllen]

the companies are avoiding paying tax so I think HMRC should get involved. Glad the unions are involved but many of these companies require a union free workforce. Something should be done to save these desperate people.

The unions are involved to create case law, so expect the losing side to appeal. Whether workers in those firms will join the unions after that is a different matter.