This Lords Library Briefing provides information on current employment law, and what it means to be ‘self-employed’, a ‘worker’, or an ‘employee’.
Gig Economy: Legal Status of Gig Economy Workers and Working Practices (425KB PDF)
It has been argued by some lawyers, politicians, researchers, companies and workplace-relations organisations, that the gig economy has created difficulties in defining the employment status of those who work within it under current law. Many companies in this area have been the subject of legal challenges from individuals working in the gig economy regarding their employment status. Furthermore, the issue of gig economy employment status has been addressed by multiple governmental organisations, government-commissioned reviews, and parliamentary reviews.
This Briefing provides information on current employment law, and what it means to be ‘self-employed’, a ‘worker’, or an ‘employee’. It provides information on all current and previous legal challenges brought against companies operating in the taxi driving, food delivery, goods couriers and skilled manual labour sectors of the gig economy, and their meaning for the employment status of individuals working in these sectors. Information on the various government and parliamentary reviews to have focused on gig economy employment status in included. It concludes with information on potential wider legal implications of how the legal status of workers in the gig economy is to be defined.
This Briefing is part two of a two-part series on the gig economy. Part one provides a general introduction to the gig economy, including sectors, demographic information, and potential impact on the wider economy.
Gig Economy: Legal Status of Gig Economy Workers and Working Practices (425KB PDF)
The Commercial Payments Bill [HL] seeks to tackle late payments to small businesses. It would impose minimum payment periods for invoices, prohibit the use of retentions in construction contracts and provide the small business commissioner with greater powers. The bill received an unopposed second reading in the House of Lords on 9 June 2026. 30 government amendments were made to the bill at committee stage.
![Commercial Payments Bill [HL]: Progress in the Lords](https://lordslibrary-parliament.studio24.dev/content/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/Business-VIGs-568x426.jpg)
The Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill is a government bill that would provide powers to nationalise a company involved in steel manufacturing where it is in the public interest. It completed its House of Commons stages on 9 June 2026 and is scheduled for second reading in the House of Lords on 16 June 2026. The government has explained the bill is being fast-tracked as it believes it is necessary to safeguard the future of the UK steel industry. It says this is important for the UK economy, national security and critical infrastructure.
Concerns have been raised about levels of welfare spending in the UK and increasing numbers of young people not in education, employment or training. This briefing sets out statistics, government policy and commentary on welfare and youth employment. This includes the government’s youth guarantee, its ‘Get Britain working’ policies and the interim report by Alan Milburn on young people and work.
