Review into gig economy attacked '¨as '˜feeble'

The review, headed by Matthew Taylor, a former adviser to Tony Blair, recommended a new category of worker called a “dependent contractor”, and said there should be “genuine two-way flexibility”, giving workers additional protection.

The report by Mr Taylor, the head of the Royal Society of Arts, said low-paid workers should not be “stuck” at the living wage minimum, or face insecurity.

But unions and employment lawyers criticised the report, which has taken nine months to produce, for doing little to help the growing number of workers in delivery and taxi firms such as Deliveroo and Uber.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “I worry that many gig economy employers will be breathing a sigh of relief this morning. From what we’ve seen, this review is not the game-changer needed to end insecurity and exploitation at work.

“We’d welcome any nuggets of good news, but it doesn’t look like the report will shift the balance of power in the modern workplace.”

Thompsons Solicitors’ chief executive Stephen Cavalier said that the report’s recommendations were “feeble and add another layer of unnecessary complexity”. He added: “The creation of a new ‘dependent contractor’ status for gig economy workers would further complicate existing categories of how workers are defined in law.

“What is needed is one category which affords all workers all employment rights from day one of their contracts starting.”

Mr Taylor said the UK’s performance on the quantity of work was strong, adding that now was the time to create better jobs. The report calls on the Government “to adopt the ambition that all work should be fair and decent with scope for fulfilment and development”.