IPSE: “Inadequate” off-payroll review “leaves freelance sector floundering”
IPSE (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) has warned that the government’s review into the new off-payroll working rules does not go far enough, and will not allay freelancers’ fears about the changes to IR35.
The Association notes that the government has not paused the roll-out of the changes, has not said the review will be independently chaired and has allocated only a “disappointingly short” period (until “mid-February) for the review.
Andy Chamberlain, deputy director of policy at IPSE said: “The review announced today is disappointingly hasty and inadequate.
“Not only has the government not said it will pause the changes, it has also allocated far too little time for a full review and said nothing about selecting an independent chair.
“Such a limited review would leave the freelance sector floundering.
“Right now, across the sector, contractors and freelancers are panicking at the prospect of these disastrous changes.
“Major businesses, including most of the large banks, have already announced they will no longer engage contractors out of fear they will fall foul of the notoriously complex legislation.
“Even before the new rules take effect, they are precipitating a crisis among the self-employed.
“The government must urgently reconsider. It must give more time for a full review that includes an impact assessment of the changes in the public sector and the likely effects on the private sector. And for the integrity of the review, it must make sure it is independently chaired.
“During the election, Sajid Javid said the Conservatives were ‘on the side of the self-employed’. It must not be one of the first acts of this government to let this commitment slide.”