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Contractor organisation hits out at agency worker proposals

Published on Jan 25, 2010 |

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The Service Providers Association has called for greater governmental differentiation between constituent populations of the professional freelance workforce on the basis that the Agency Workers legislation is "ill informed".

The SPA, which represents companies who provide a variety of accountancy and umbrella services to contractors and freelancers, is spearheading a campaign to increase recognition of the different types of worker operating within the flexible workforce.

The organisation's chairman, Stuart Davis, explains:

"That BIS supports the AWD proposition to impose a blanket treatment for all agency workers is revealing of a pervasive misunderstanding of how the flexible workforce operates. While SPA supports legislation that protects the rights of vulnerable workers, we strongly believe Government should make attempts to define what constitutes a 'vulnerable' worker. Even more constructive would be to delineate who is not a vulnerable worker. Understanding the range of populations that work through umbrella companies will allow government to create legislation that encourages, rather than hinders their operations.

"It is clear to us that the non vulnerable workers who make up a significant proportion of the flexible workforce do not want these proposed 'protections', which risk increasing paperwork and overhead costs to undermine the appeal of the flexible worker proposition. We're surprised that BIS - the department charged with responsibility for Business, Innovation and Skill - is supporting the introduction of legislation that will stifle some of the most innovative and skillful sectors of the UK economy, dangerously reducing their work opportunities.

"This is yet another piece of ill informed legislation that risks undermining the flexible labour market. That it comes during such challenging economic times, when the amount and variety of flexible workers is set to increase is even more unnerving. SPA is pleased to work with all parties involved to establish constructive definitions that recognise the different types of existing freelance workers, facilitating a supportive legislative environment. Establishing these definitions is at the very least, a fitting recognition of the significant contribution that flexible workers make to the UK economy."