A Freelancers’ Charter
should be adopted by the numerous freelancer groups, such that they take
ownership. The Labour Party should be a similar signatory to it, and should use
it as a litmus test when defining new legislation in the future.
- Freelancers have the right to be issued a contract for the work they are doing or otherwise assume a default basic contract. They have the right to be paid and be paid on time for the services they provide.
- Freelancers should be able to compete for work and not be subject
to restraint of trade by any organisation or association as a result of
not having employee or larger company status. Such that clients should not
discriminate against, or shy away from freelancers because of concerns
over tax and employment status.
- Freelancers have the right to a clear definition of their status
for both tax and employment purposes.
- Freelancers who compete against larger firms for business have the
right to be treated as a supplier. If their status is assessed for tax or
employment purposes then they should have the right to be compared with
these others suppliers, not just against employees.
- Freelancers should not have to pay tax in advance against monies
they have not yet earned.
- Freelancer Workers should have the right and ability to pay some
additional tax in order to opt-in to register for social welfare support
and benefits between contracts. They should have the ability to move to
welfare and back again without difficulty.
- Freelancers should have the same professional responsibilities as
an employee to uphold ethical standards.
- The drivers for freelancing should be professional, economic, and
business drivers, rather than ones of tax efficiency. This should apply to
both freelancers and those that use them.
- Freelancers have the right to be in business on their own account.
Freelancers do not need to employ anyone else, have concurrent clients, or
be able to supply a substitute, provide their own equipment, have a
distinct work address, or even grow their businesses, to prove their
status as a freelancer.
- Freelancers have the choice to establish a limited liability
company dedicated to serve their needs in the marketplace and can use it
to carry out both freelancing and traditional small business activities.
