Review into new off-payroll working rules "highlights the government’s complete disregard for the freelance sector"
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is calling on the government to scrap yesterday's announced review into off-payroll legislation, which is due to conclude in mid-February, and to guarantee no change in status for the self-employed for a minimum of two years. Pressing ahead with the rollout of the legislation - referred to as IR35 - to include the private sector will represent an unacceptable level of burden on the PR sector and will stifle enterprise.
As CIPR has previously highlighted, "the proposed changes affecting off-payroll workers in the private sector would stifle enterprise and business at a time when the economy needs to be more agile."
The government’s review of the off-payroll legislation is extremely disappointing. Introducing IR35 to the private sector, following such a short consultation period, highlights the government’s complete disregard for the freelance sector.
Many of our members operate as freelancers, bringing a wealth of talent and experience to organisations and businesses in all sectors. The legislation, as it stands, only serves to stifle the valuable resource that we all bring to the economy.
As we near a resolution to Brexit, the government should be doing all it can to help create an entrepreneurial Britain, rather than crush it.
We therefore call on the government to scrap the review – and give it the proper attention it deserves – so that freelancers, in all professions, are given the opportunity to flourish.
CIPR's State of the Profession report shows that 12% of the industry’s workforce – approximately 8,500 PR professionals – describe themselves as independent practitioners.
About the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR)
Founded in 1948, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) is the Royal Chartered professional body for public relations practitioners in the UK and overseas. The CIPR is the largest membership organisation for PR practitioners outside of North America. By size of turnover and number of individually registered members, we are the leading representative body for the PR profession and industry in Europe.
The CIPR advances professionalism in public relations by making its members accountable to their employers and the public through a code of conduct and searchable public register, setting standards through training, qualifications, awards and the production of best practice and skills guidance, facilitating Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and awarding Chartered Public Relations Practitioner status (Chart.PR).