Industrial reporter @TrinderMatt

THE number of people working in the gig economy in England and Wales has nearly tripled over the past five years, the TUC reported today.

Research carried out by the University of Hertfordshire for the union confederation shows that three in 20 working adults – about 4.4 million people – now work via gig economy platforms at least once a week, compared with about one in 20 in 2016.

Almost a quarter of workers have done platform work at some point, up from one in 10 five years ago.

Such work covers a wide range of takeaway jobs that are found via a website or app, such as those of private taxi firm Uber or takeaway meal delivery giant Deliveroo.

The number of workers doing delivery or driving shifts has more than quadrupled from 1.9 per cent in 2016 to 8.9 per cent this year, the data shows.

Those doing remote online digital tasks have more than doubled over the same period, from 4.9 per cent to 11.9 per cent. 

The overwhelming majority of workers use takeaway platforms to supplement other forms of income, often resulting in long days and poor working conditions.

Many are on low pay and miss out on legal employment rights such as sick and holiday pay because they are classed as self-employed.

Black and ethnic minority workers are overrepresented in the gig economy, according to recent research, so boosting gig workers’ rights is therefore vital to tackling structural racism, the TUC stressed.

The body reiterated its calls for a ban on zero-hours contracts alongside the introduction of a new definition of a “worker” to give all employees the full range of legal rights. 

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work. But millions of working people are having to rely on casual and insecure gig economy work to make ends meet, often on top of other jobs.

“Gig economy platforms are using new technologies to carry out the age-old practice of worker exploitation.

“Too often, gig workers are denied their rights and are treated like disposable labour.

“It’s time for change. Ministers must stop letting gig economy platforms off the hook.

“That means giving all gig workers trade union access, banning zero-hours contracts and boosting workers’ rights across the board.”