Employment Status (Definitions) Bill

Key Points

• Amends the statutory definitions of 'worker' and 'self-employed person'.
• Introduces clearer criteria or tests for determining employment status.
• Aims to reduce uncertainty and disputes over how status is decided by courts and regulators.
• Could affect eligibility for rights and duties linked to employment status, and who pays taxes or National Insurance under those labels.
• May have particular relevance to gig economy workers and other groups where status is currently unclear.

Progress

The bill is at Second Reading in the House of Commons. If it passes, it will move to Committee for detailed scrutiny, then on to Report, Third Reading, and eventually onwards to the Lords.