Pensions - Articles - Uber, Hermes, Amazon & Deliveroo at DWP gig economy hearing

 The Committee is exploring the support that these companies offer to their self-employed workforces, the extent to which they feel that they are responsible for providing support and whether they would like to provide more, and how likely workers under these pay and conditions will rely on the welfare system.

 “The gig economy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the UK contributing to a record high employment rate of 74.6%.

 But many gig economy workers face low and irregular pay, with few employment rights. The Work and Pension Committee’s inquiry will test the willingness of companies currently in the spotlight to do more to support their workers and give them equal employment rights with their ‘employed’ peers, including the right to an employer pension contribution.

 “In the UK pension provision is largely delivered through the workplace, and the self-employed are currently excluded from the government’s flagship auto enrolment policy. The government is currently carrying out a review of auto-enrolment and we urge it to look to plug the gaps by extending the policy to groups who currently miss out on an employer pension contribution, including the growing number of gig economy workers. Without this the schism between the privately pensioned and unpensioned will continue to widen and the government will have to look seriously at how it ensures these people reach retirement age with sufficient savings. “