Statutory Self-Employment Pay – Bill Amendment

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Parliament is discussing an amendment to the Coronavirus Bill in respect of Statutory Self Employment Pay.

The House of Commons Public Bill Committee has proposed the amendment which will provide protection for those who are self-employed and freelancers.

If passed, which seems likely, the bill will compel government to introduce Regulations that will ensure that those who are self employed, or work in a freelance capacity will benefit from the assistance the government is offering during this period of enforced seclusion.

The bill proposes that:

Those defined as “freelancers” (undefined) and “self-employed people” should receive guaranteed earnings of:

(a)  80% of their monthly net earnings, averaged over the last three years, or

(b)  £2,917 per month

whichever is the lower.
The amendment to this bill will make the government ‘top up’ the earnings of self employed people to 80% of their net monthly earnings. This will then fall in line with the level of earnings that employed workers are offered.

We expect the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a statement at today’s daily press briefing (24/03/2020) confirming the support that self-employed people will receive. We will provide an update as soon as we have one.

You can find more information on your employment rights and how we can help you HERE. Alternatively, you can contact us to speak to one of our experts here.