The Chancellor, Richard Hammond, has announced a U-turn on the proposed rise in national Insurance rates for the self-employed.In the Spring Budget it was announced that as of 6th April 2018, Class 4 NICs would be increasing to 10% from the current 9% in place, with a further increase to 11% the following year.In a letter to Tory MPs, the Chancellor revealed that he has “decided not to proceed” with the planned rise in NICs for self-employed workers, despite only announcing the measure … [Read more...]
Booming gig economy is bad for UK public finances, says TUC
Low-paid self-employment and zero-hours contracts are costing more than £75m a week in lost taxes and national insurance contributions, new research indicates.The rapid rise in insecure work in the UK is costing the government almost £4bn a year in lost tax income and benefit payouts, according to new research into the gig economy by the Trades Union Congress.The UK’s growing legions of low-paid, self-employed workers and those on zero-hours contracts earn significantly less than regular … [Read more...]
Theresa May’s Brexit plans and their impact on employment law
Theresa May’s speech was welcomed by businesses who are seeking clarity on the long term plans for Brexit. Whilst certainty was provided on certain areas, such as whether the UK will remain a member of the single market, other areas remain deliberately vague as the final position is unknown due to the need to negotiate with the European Union (EU).For many employers, the Prime Minister’s confirmation that immigration will be controlled domestically is one of the most important objectives of … [Read more...]