IPSE warning about gig economy following Deliveroo ruling

After the Independent Workers’ Union of Great Britain appealed against a previous judgement, the UK Court of Appeal has ruled that Deliveroo riders are deemed as self-employed.

As a result of this latest ruling within the gig economy, the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed (IPSE) has warned that having self-employment only being confirmed through the courts cannot continue.

Andy Chamberlain, Director of Policy at IPSE, explained further, “This ruling shows yet again the untenable mess that prevails in the UK gig economy, where self-employment can only be confirmed through the courts. We cannot persist in a situation where the only way to show someone’s self-employed status in the UK is through the courts.”

Chamberlain added, “We urge government to step in and clear the confusion in the gig economy, which arises from the fact that while UK law clearly defines worker and employee status, there is still no definition of what it is to be self-employed. We believe the only way to resolve this is to write a statutory definition of self-employment into UK law – not only to secure the rights of people who should properly be classed as workers, but also to protect the freedom of legitimately self-employed people.”

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