Construction union UCATT has given a cautious welcome to the Chancellor's announcement in the autumn statement that the Government, "will amend existing legislation to prevent employment intermediaries being used to avoid employment taxes by disguising employment as self-employment".

-- Advertisement --

Steve Murphy, General Secretary of UCATT, said: "Hundreds of thousands of workers are having their lives blighted by being forced to work through payroll companies and other forms of false self-employment. Workers are denied holiday pay, sick pay and pension rights and can be sacked without warning.

"If the Government is serious about removing payroll companies this is to be welcomed. However, it is only by ending false self-employment that the Government will increase revenues and ensure workers are not denied even the most basic employment rights."

(CD/IT)