The repeal of 2017 and 2021 reforms from April 2023 has been announced today by the UK government as part of The Growth Plan 2022 presented by the chancellor of the exchequer in his "mini budget" statement to Parliament. This follows promises by the new prime minister to review IR35...

Osborne Clarke, in partnership with the European Company Lawyers Association, has released a report exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with data-driven business models (DDBMs), with which workforce-solutions companies – including platforms and more traditional businesses – are increasingly involved. For example, companies are using their own and customer data...

The new UK chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, announced this morning that the IR35 reforms of 2017 and 2021 will now not be repealed from April 2023. Staffing companies and end clients will continue to be liable for personal service company (PSC) contractor tax and, given HMRC's likely refreshed focus on enforcement...

HMRC's "soft landing" enforcement policy for the first year following the commencement of the private sector IR35 regime has now expired. In the future, HMRC is more likely to impose sizeable penalties (in addition to the tax assessment and interest) where it finds that those making decisions about or implementing...

Italian law does not expressly provide any limit for employee’s daily working time, but does provide for a minimum daily rest of 11 consecutive hours for each 24-hour period. The length of the daily rest may be reduced by collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) provided that employees are afforded equivalent periods...

Reports in the press this weekend suggest the UK government is planning urgent amendment of legislation which prevents companies from using agency workers to replace striking workers. This measure would operate alongside other actions the government appears to be considering relating to requiring a minimum number of rail staff to...

Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the UK Labour Party (which polls suggest is likely to win the next UK general election, due to be held by the end of January 2025), talked on Sky News last week (3 February 2024) about introducing a bill " within 100 days" of...

Budget announcements of 6 March and forthcoming general election point to big changes for sector

Many would agree that low-paid workers operating regularly via apps and digital labour platforms, and working under some degree of control should have basic employment rights (to the extent they do not under existing laws). However, the latest plans of the EU to address this go a lot further than...

EU ministers have finally agreed, on 11 March, a provisional deal for the Platform Workers Directive (PWD). Importantly, it includes a presumption of employment status in certain circumstances, such that where those circumstances apply, it will be for the "employer" or platform to prove that the worker is not an...