The Professional Contractors Group, which represents the UKís freelance workers, has joined forces with the Work Foundation on a tour of this autumnís party conferences, to press the case for recognition of freelancers.
PCG is sponsoring fringe meetings held in conjunction with The Work Foundation called ìEscaping the Rat Race ñ Freelance Freedom or Job Insecurity?î to raise awareness of the important contribution that freelancers make to the economy.
PCG Chairman David Ramsden said: ìAlthough politicians discuss employment issues, such as flexible working, and the Government frequently introduces measures that affect freelancersí businesses, there is still a tendency to regard freelancers as temporary employees rather than one-person businesses that provide services essential to commerce, industry and government departments.î
Mr Ramsden added, ìItís estimated that there are 3.8 million self-employed people in the United Kingdom, including 3.3 million businesses with no employees turning over 208 billion. Thatís a lot of potential votes for any political party to consider.î
In a recent survey of PCG members, 80% agreed that clients recognised freelancing as a valid business model while 95% felt that the Government gave freelancing no recognition ñ as was evident when Tony Blair addressed The Work Foundation on the subject of the future of the workforce earlier this year ñ neither self-employment nor freelancing was mentioned.
ìThe Government pays great attention to the self-employed when it comes to taxî continued Mr Ramsden. ìIR35, the so-called ìfreelancersí taxî is enforced vigorously. Yet many freelancers do not understand the tax and may be incurring unnecessary financial penalties. PCG and its suppliers have handled 1,440 IR35 cases on behalf of its members, of which only four were found to fall within the scope of IR35. This is a waste of taxpayersí money, tax inspectorsí time and is appallingly stressful and financially damaging for genuine freelancers trying to run a business.
Thatís why we are calling for a duty of care to be placed on Her Majestyís Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to prevent freelancers being subjected to disruptive and aggressive tax investigations with no means of redressî added Mr Ramsden.
PCG played a prominent part in the Arctic Systems test case, concerning the taxation of small family owned businesses, supporting Geoff and Diana Jones in their struggle with HMRC and helping to obtain a landmark decision at the House of Lords.
PCG remains apolitical and is committed to working with all parties as part of its continuing commitment to the nationís freelancers and its willingness to work with all those who wish to see their contribution more widely recognised.
PCG takes freelance fight to party conferences
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