NUJ statement on Sunak's latest deal for freelances
The government’s latest Covid-19 package for freelances again makes the self-employed second-class citizens and continues to freeze out the #ForgottenFreelances.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak
© Treasury
The NUJ has released a statement on the government’s latest Covid-19 package for freelances, which again makes the self-employed second-class citizens and continues to freeze out the #ForgottenFreelances.
Pamela Morton, NUJ national freelance organiser, said:
"While we welcome the increase to 40 per cent from the previous 20 per cent in this deal, the self-employed support must be equal to the support the UK government is giving employees; under the new Job Support Scheme it is not.
"The support for employees is set out for the next six months but for the self-employed we only know details of the first instalment covering the first three months. The second lump sum is to be decided at a later date adding further stress, worry and hardship to the already most vulnerable workers in the economy.
"We have raised our concerns with the TUC to take this up with the Chancellor, as well as our continuing dismay and anger that the government has failed to provide any support at all for the many PAYE self-employed individuals, those with less than 50 per cent self-assessed income, the newly self-employed, those who work via limited companies and those with self-employed profits of more than £50,000. There is still time for the government to put this right.
"We are also launching our new campaign for better rights and protections for freelances and calling on government and companies to stop giving so many freelances such a shabby deal."
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