Legislation/Regulation

Proposals submitted to government to help regulate umbrella companies

Two experts have put forward proposals they say are needed to regulate the umbrella company industry, in the wake of the government’s failure last week to unveil an Employment Bill in the Queen’s Speech.

17 May 2021

Don’t ditch the digital identity checks, says Rosser

Returning to in-person identity checks from 21 June is “a daft decision”, the House of Lords has been told following a government announcement last week that the move away from digital checks has been postponed but not cancelled.

HR 17 May 2021

Addison Lee drivers are workers says Court of Appeal

In the latest victory for gig economy workers, the Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by hired driving company Addison Lee.

Transport & logistics, Hospitality/Leisure 23 April 2021

REC urges Home Secretary to review right to work checks

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has sent an urgent request to home secretary Priti Patel for a permanent review of right to work checks “to reflect the learnings of the pandemic”.

23 April 2021

‘Anti-naughty boy’ proposal in Finance Bill to ensure contractors are paid fairly

A proposed “anti-naughty boy” clause is in the works by IR35 specialist and campaigner Dave Chaplin to reform the Finance Bill.

22 April 2021

Sole directors hit by debt as still banned from financial schemes

As the UK’s ‘race to open up’ begins, limited company directors are still excluded from benefitting from self-employment support schemes.

20 April 2021

Cadbury’s call to exclude umbrellas could ‘shut down’ industry

An MP has called for changes to the Finance Bill which would, if approved, effectively shut down the UK umbrella industry.

Public sector, Social care 14 April 2021

Free visa extensions for frontline healthcare workers

Thousands of crucial frontline health workers and their dependents will be granted free visa extensions, home secretary Priti Patel announced on Friday [9 April 2021].

Social care, Healthcare/Medical 12 April 2021

Amend off-payroll reforms says Parliamentary group

A Parliamentary inquiry on how contracting and freelance working should operate in the UK has called for the off-payroll rules that came into effect on 6 April to be amended.

9 April 2021

New dawn or stormy seas for new IR35 off-payroll working rules?

The controversial IR35 self-employed taxation rules being rolled out today are undermining the sector at the “worst possible time”.

Transport & logistics 6 April 2021

Readers respond to reports on IR35 reforms on recruiter.co.uk

Reports on recruiter.co.uk over the past week on the upcoming implementation of IR35 reforms in the private sector have received significant response from readers.

Retail, Transport & logistics 1 April 2021

HMRC report finds most education institutions aren’t prepared for IR35 reforms

More than three-quarters of education sites do not feel prepared for the off-payroll reforms taking effect on 6 April.

Public sector, Education 31 March 2021

HMRC defends interviewee numbers in research into IR35 changes

HM Revenue & Customs has defended research published last week into the impact of Off Payroll Working Rules on recruitment agencies as “robust”.

29 March 2021

HMRC-commissioned report says most recruiters unaffected by upcoming IR35 reforms

A new report commissioned by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs says that most recruitment agencies have experienced “no impact” as a direct result of the upcoming implementation of the IR35 reforms for the private sector on 6 April.

Public sector, Marketing 25 March 2021

IR35 – What is it about the regulation?

IR35, commonly referred to as ‘Intermediaries Regulation’ and ‘off-payroll working rules’, governs the tax status of contractors that provide services through intermediaries such as Personal Services Company (PSC). This HMRC designed legislation assesses whether the contractor is genuine or a ‘disguised employee’ operating as a contractor for tax evasion.

25 March 2021

Report highlights ‘problems’ for UK professionals with unrecognised EU qualifications

A House of Lords sub-committee predicts “real problems” for professionals whose UK qualifications are not recognised in the EU under the current Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

Creative/Digital/Media, Education 24 March 2021

New ruling guarantees Uber drivers NLW, holiday pay and benefits

All 70,000 of Uber’s UK drivers will be guaranteed a minimum wage, holiday pay and pensions, the company has announced.

Transport & logistics, HR 17 March 2021

Do your due diligence for new IR35 off-payroll rules urges FCSA CEO

Recruitment agencies are warned to re-examine their preferred supplier lists of umbrella companies and “do your due diligence” as the new IR35 Off-Payroll rules come into force in less than a month, the CEO of the Freelancer and Contractor Services Association (FCSA) has urged.

15 March 2021

REC finds ‘no evidence of wrongdoing’ by Adecco and PMP Recruitment at Amazon sites

The Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) said it has “found no evidence of wrongdoing” by recruiters Adecco and PMP Recruitment in connection with allegations of poor treatment of workers at Amazon sites in the UK.

Retail, Transport & logistics 10 March 2021

Recruiting temps in Germany brings new problems post-Brexit with licences being revoked

Some British recruiters providing temporary workers to employers in Germany have had their licences to do so revoked by the German Federal Employment Agency, following the UK’s exit from the European Union, a German lawyer says.

2 March 2021

REC puts forward youth mobility scheme to help solve UK talent challenge

A youth mobility programme with European countries, similar to those the UK currently has with Australia and New Zealand, could be a partial solution to the UK’s talent challenge for low-skilled roles, the Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) has told a House of Lords sub-committee.

1 March 2021