AGENCY WORKERS REGULATIONS: FREELANCERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY ‘IN BUSINESS ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT’

AGENCY WORKERS REGULATIONS: FREELANCERS ARE PREDOMINANTLY ‘IN BUSINESS ON THEIR OWN ACCOUNT’

PCG launches guide for recruiters to clarify guidance

Today, recruitment agencies and HR Directors across the country will be receiving the first ever guide to ‘working with freelancers’ in advance of October’s introduction of the Agency Workers Regulations (AWR).

PCG, the association representing freelance working in the UK, has joined forces with academics, industry experts and lawyers to produce this comprehensive guide to help assist HR and Recruitment professionals to continue to capitalise on freelance expertise in the workplace.

John Brazier, Managing Director of PCG, says:

“Let’s be very clear, the AWR itself is not intended to apply to freelance workers in business on their own account. However, the guidance lacks clarity and transparency for them and we have been forced to step in to supply this for freelancers, clients and agencies. This guide is therefore vital to ensure that those working with freelancers on a day-to-day basis have the confidence to conduct business as usual.”

PCG’s guide, is designed to make it clear where the regulations do and do not apply, and help clients and agencies manage their risk and ensure freelancers are engaged as businesses.

Gillian Econopouly, Head of Public Policy for REC, says:

“The REC and PCG have always been in agreement that the AWR was never intended to apply to genuinely self-employed freelancers. We are united in making every effort to help freelancers, HR professionals and recruiters understand what this means for how they work. The REC has produced our own comprehensive set of legal guides, model contracts and other assistance for our members, and we welcome PCG’s guidance on freelancers as a helpful and complementary publication.

“Recruiters, freelancers and hirers all want the same thing: a healthy, vibrant contractor community which is not affected by these regulations, which were designed to protect workers at the other end of the job market.”

Mr Brazier continued:

“This guide alleviates any potential misunderstanding of the regulations which could hinder the effective use of contractors. Freelancers are often considered the barometer of industry as they are the most flexible part of the workforce and to damage this could destroy the UK’s competitive edge. We hope that this advice will allow the regulations to improve the freelance environment and provide all with a better understanding of the B2B relationships freelancers seek to foster.”

PCG’s “Freelancers and the Agency Workers Regulations” guide has been mailed to HR professionals within the FTSE 500 as well as over 1000 agencies. It is also available free to download at the dedicated page on the PCG website at www.pcg.org.uk/agencies