The head of the UK’s pension regulator has called on companies using gig economy workers to put in place pension schemes and recognise employment rights.
Charles Counsell, the chief executive of the Pensions Regulator, has said that the government-supported body was already working with Uber following a supreme court ruling found the firm’s drivers should be classed as workers. This resulted in Uber being forced to introduce measures that were in line with employment rights including hourly pay, holiday pay and pensions.
However, most gig economy workers are still classed as self-employed contractors and are working without any key rights in place such as a pension.
Speaking on the regulator’s TPR Talks Podcast, Counsell said that it was time the body started calling on other gig economy companies to recognise the rights of their self-employed workers.
“I am going to call on other organisations in the gig economy to start to recognise that the people who work for them are workers and should be eligible for a pension,” Counsell said.
“It is all about helping people working in the economy to have a decent standard of living in retirement and I really encourage those in the gig economy to take a stance and start putting their workers into pensions. Lets not deal with this on a case-by-case basis.”
Counsell has been supported by MP Stephen Timms, who works on the work and pensions select committee. Speaking on the podcast, Timms confirmed that an inquiry would be launched in the autumn to identify ways those working within the gig economy could save for retirement.
