Retail chains undermine rights

The TUC and the Usdaw shopworkers’ union have called on the chief executives of retailers Urban Outfitters, Lush, Gymshark and Emma Sleep to stop undermining workers’ rights.

The call came after The Observer and Financial Times newspapers reported the retail chains as among those recruiting so-called “freelance” workers, operating on a self-employed basis, in their stores.

The Observer found large brands were recruiting “freelance” shop assistants through gig apps to staff their stores during the busy Christmas period.

Youth influencers with hundreds of thousands of followers on the social media platform TikTok were promoting the app. TUC senior policy officer Tim Sharp described this as “a worrying new development”.

Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis and TUC assistant general secretary Kate Bell wrote: “Anyone looking at this arrangement from outside would consider it laughable that the person serving them is a self-employed worker akin to a visiting tradesperson, rather than the permanent or temporary worker for your business.

“Employment rights are not a ‘nice to have’ that employers can opt in and out of at will. They ensure that workers are paid properly, that they have sufficient rest breaks to safeguard their health and safety and that they are not discriminated against.”

Lillis and Bell will press the government to improve measures to crack down on bogus self-employment.