Contractors may be interested to learn that MPs from all the UK’s main political parties have pledged to address the false perceptions that exist around freelance contracting.
Brian Binley, the chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on freelancing, said the members of the group had committed to addressing the myths and assumptions surrounding the contractor community and better understanding freelancers.
Tory MP Binley said freelancers have a big role to play in the country’s economy recovery. They create a flexible workforce and are able to provide specialist talent at very short notice. But policy makers often overlook them and he cited IR35 legislation as a chief example.
The results obtained by the parliamentary group will help industry captains, such as Kevin Green from the REC and John Brazier from the PCG, understand why freelancers do not get the support and recognition they deserve from official channels.
Andrew Burke, a panel member from the Cranfield School of Management, says this lack of appreciation is due to a lack of research on freelancers’ economic status.
The PCG attended the latest APPG discussions and John Brazier explained that there were now at least 1.4 million freelancers working in the UK. The number of freelancers is still increasing and they are adding value to the UK economy. The PCG also pledged to conduct research into the economic importance of freelancers before National Freelancer’s Day on November 23rd.
The APPG’s report entitled “The Value of Freelancing” will be presented to government this autumn.
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