MPs call for better freelance rights

Grimsby MP Austin Mitchell, a member of the NUJ's parliamentary group, has put down an Early Day Motion, calling for better rights for freelances.
The EDM says: "That this House notes that freelance workers have been hit hard by the economic downturn and are losing significant amounts of regular work with little or no warning and without any redundancy pay or compensation; further notes that many freelance workers have little choice but to take up self-employment because of employment practices in their sector; further notes that at present freelance workers are entitled to pro rata holiday pay for the periods that they work; believes that a similar system could be applied to other employment rights, such as redundancy pay; therefore calls for improved rights across all sectors in which regular freelance work occurs."
It has been signed by 14 MPs.
The NUJ has named July "Freelance Month" to highlight its campaign for improved rights for freelances.