Campaigners urge Andy Burnham to crack down on UK gig economy firms over alleged bogus self‑employment denying rights to 4 million workers
Executive summary: Campaigners have called on Andy Burnham to prosecute gig economy companies that use widespread bogus self‑employment arrangements to deny workers sick pay, holiday pay and protection from unfair dismissal, affecting an estimated 4 million UK workers. If enforced, the move could reclassify many gig workers as employees, raising labor costs for platforms and strengthening statutory protections across the sector.
Who is involved: Andy Burnham (Mayor of Greater Manchester), unnamed campaigner groups, and major gig economy platforms operating in the UK (e.g., Uber, Deliveroo, Lyft).
Likely next: Greater Manchester authorities may launch a review of gig‑employer contracts, potentially leading to investigations or legal actions against non‑compliant firms.
The Guardian reports that campaigners are pressing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham to take legal action against gig economy platforms that classify workers as self‑employed to avoid providing sick pay, holiday entitlement and protection against unfair dismissal. They estimate that around four million workers in the UK are affected by such practices. The call reflects growing pressure on policymakers to close loopholes in employment law that allow platforms to sidestep statutory worker protections.
Timeline
- — Andy Burnham has barely acknowledged the climate crisis. If only Britain’s workers had that luxury | John Harris (The Guardian — Business)
- — Burnham urged to crack down on gig economy firms to protect 4m workers (The Guardian — Business)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- UK ride‑hailing and food delivery platforms
Regulatory implications
- Possible enforcement of the UK Employment Rights Act 1996 to reclassify gig workers as workers entitled to minimum wage, holiday pay and protection against unfair dismissal.
Historical parallels
- UK Supreme Court ruling in Uber BV v Aslam (2021) that classified Uber drivers as workers entitled to minimum wage and holiday pay.
Sources
- Burnham urged to crack down on gig economy firms to protect 4m workers — The Guardian — Business
- Andy Burnham has barely acknowledged the climate crisis. If only Britain’s workers had that luxury | John Harris — The Guardian — Business
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