Open consultation

Make Work Pay: employment status reform and protections for the self-employed 

• From: Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Kate Dearden MP
• Published: 14 October 2026

Summary

We are seeking views on proposals to reform employment status, improve compliance with employment rights and strengthen protections for the self-employed.

This consultation closes at
11:55pm on 8 January 2027

Consultation description

The government is consulting on targeted reforms to the employment status framework for employment rights. The consultation seeks views on proposals to: 

• place less emphasis on personal service when determining worker status
• improve compliance with the employment status framework, including through a presumption of worker status and enforcement measures
• strengthen protections for the self-employed, including through written statements, blacklisting protections and health and safety protections

The consultation also seeks views on how these proposals could operate in practice.

Documents

Consultation on employment status reform and protections for the self-employed 

PDF, 490 KB, 47 pages

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format

If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email digital@businessandtrade.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Ways to respond

Respond online

or

Email to:

statusconsultation@businessandtrade.gov.uk

Write to:

Employment Status Team
Employment Rights Directorate
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Old Admiralty Building
Admiralty Place
London
SW1A 2DY

Published 14 October 2026