The IPSE is backing a new FSB campaign that is calling on the government to think more about the self-employed and to provide additional support to all 4.8 million of them.
The IPSE has said that the ‘Think Self-Employed’ campaign backs up a number of their recommendations to improve conditions for the UK’s contracting sector.
In the FSB’s campaign, they are asking for:
- Simplifying the tax system – the government should maintain their commitment and abolish Class II NIC in April 2018, to simplify the tax system and remove the arbitrary levy.
- Saving for the future – to better support the self-employed to save into a pension.
- Giving new starters a step up – for many, the application of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) after a year could prevent successful business growth and so the FSB says government should extend the start-up period from 12 months to at least 24 months.
- Starting and growing a family – the government should introduce paternity pay and an adoption allowance based on the current maternity allowance.
- Preparing for the worst – the government should work with the insurance industry to support the development of more affordable income protection insurance options for the self-employed.
- Training – tax relief for training courses should be introduced and not just for refreshing existing skills, but for developing new ones too.
- Equal access to finance products – this includes barriers that prevent many self-employed workers from accessing mortgages, bank loans and certain insurances.
Simon McVicker, IPSE’s Director of Policy, commented, “It’s excellent to see other leading trade associations like the FSB coming out in support of the UK’s 4.8 million self-employed. All too often, their enormous economic contribution to the UK goes unrecognised and they are simply seen as a target for ill-conceived tax grabs like the changes to IR35.
“We wholeheartedly support the FSB’s ‘Think Self-Employed’ campaign and welcome its commitment to policies that, like IPSE’s, will guarantee the future of freelancers and the self-employed in the UK. For too long now, Universal Credit hasn’t worked for less financially secure self-employed people and it urgently needs reforming. It is also unjust that self-employed mothers and fathers still don’t have the same security as employees. And making Brexit work for the self-employed must be a priority to secure the future of the economy.”
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