Community Union’s Kate Dearden has described how the scourge of late payments is causing misery to hundreds of thousands of self-employed workers, freelancers and small businesses.
Kate, who is Community’s Head of Research, Policy and Politics, told the London Assembly’s Economy Committee today that the union’s members in the sector were being forced to repeatedly chase disgracefully late payments time and time again, with many forced to rely on overdrafts and borrowing which affect their ability to apply for a mortgage or plan for the future.
In her remarks to the committee, she called for the government to step in to create a model for ‘freelancing without fear’, including legislating to make late payments beyond 60 days unlawful.
Small Business Commissioner Liz Barclay was among the others on the panel providing evidence.
Speaking after the session, Kate Dearden said:
“The experiences of our self-employed members who deal with the scourge of late payments on a regular basis are bleak. Many are on low-incomes, and are struggling to make ends meet while they wait for payments they should have received months ago. The system as it stands doesn’t protect freelancers, and lets serial offenders – including large companies with deep pockets – get away with not paying for services on time.
“We need to see a cultural shift. That has to start with the government getting a grip and legislating to protect the self-employed, who make such a huge contribution to the national economy.”
Community has worked with the Fabian Society, Bectu and Prospect to produce a progressive manifesto for the self-employed – ‘Working For You’. You can read the manifesto online at https://community-tu.org/who-we-are/what-we-stand-for/our-policy-work/working-for-you-a-manifesto-for-the-self-employed
You can watch Kate Dearden’s evidence to the London Assembly’s Economy Committee here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66eY_qMRb-s
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Community is the collective voice of the self-employed. We bring together self-employed and freelance workers, so we have a strong voice to lobby for much needed changes. We’re using our collective voice to raise up the voices of the self-employed and freelancers and argue for better support and provisions. We are a modern trade union, campaigning for a better working world.
If you are a member of Community and need advice or support, please contact our Service Centre at help@community-tu.org or on 0800 389 6332.
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