The situation for freelancers could not be more urgent – government needs to act now

Several weeks into the COVID-19 crisis and, while the government has eventually taken action to help those losing their jobs who are employees, it has done nothing to protect the incomes of freelancers and the self-employed.

Prospect is asking for the government to treat freelancers and employees equitably by protecting 80% of their income. We stand ready to work with the government to work out how this can be done.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect, said:

“There is now support from every part of society and the political spectrum that the government must act now to help freelancers and the self-employed weather the coronavirus crisis.

“Our members have been telling us for the last fortnight that projects were being closed and jobs were drying up, so the situation now couldn’t be more urgent.

“This can’t wait weeks, these workers and the whole economy need help to be announced now and money in their pockets by the end of the week. Put simply they need the same level of support as employees.

“If government can do it for businesses to help employees, it can do it to help freelancers too.”