It's an ill wind, and all that. Coronavirus has shone a spotlight on a dark corner of modern life.
During lockdown, the Government is paying the wages of PAYE employees, but there was confusion and delay over the forgotten army of the self-employed.
Many people choose to work for themselves. They like to be their own boss, and there are tax advantages.
Millions more have no choice. Thanks to Thatcher’s deregulation revolution, they are on zero contracts, agency work, short-term and part-time casual labour with no fixed hours.
Come in when we text you – on the smartphone you pay for.
After setting up his Job Retention Scheme for workers “on the books”, Chancellor Rishi Sunak belatedly brought in a Self-Employment Income Support scheme (SEISS).
Claimants must provide the taxman with evidence of average monthly trading profits. So far, 2.3 million claims have been made, costing £6.8 billion.
This is fine for tradesmen who are used to complex business transactions, but for those lowest-paid, with the least ability to communicate their plight, it’s a mirage.
It’s just as bad higher up the scale. Nine out of 10 skilled freelance workers like IT contractors and supply teachers are getting no help from the Government, despite losing most of their earnings, a survey reported yesterday.
No wonder claims for Universal Credit have soared sixfold, with millions turning to the DWP for life support. Food banks have been similarly inundated.
This is a largely unseen, unheard tragedy. And it will get worse when “furloughing” for PAYE workers ends on October 31, throwing untold numbers out of work as firms go under.
Boris Johnson pledged: “We’ll put our arms round every single worker.” Come Halloween, we’ll find out if that’s just another hollow promise.
This week, he blethered in Prime Minister’s Questions: “There will be many, many job losses. That is inevitable.”
It’s a pity his is not one of them.
