Right to work checks now required
There are new legal requirements to carry out checks confirming that anyone working in their name is eligible to work in the UK. Previously, these requirements did not apply to ‘gig economy’ and zero-hour workers.
The gig economy refers to short-term, flexible or freelance jobs where workers are paid per “gig” or task, rather than receiving a regular salary or long-term employment contract. These arrangements are often popular in the construction, food delivery, beauty salon and courier service sectors.
Businesses hiring workers in the gig economy will need to ensure they have systems in place to check the status of workers they hire. Failing to comply could result in fines of up to £60,000 per worker, business closures, director disqualifications and potential prison sentences of up to 5 years.