Worker and employer perspectives of illegal working
A report exploring illegal working activity by gig economy workers and business owners’ attitudes towards compliance in sectors vulnerable to illegal working.
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This research, by IFF Research, interviewed ‘gig economy’ workers using digital platforms and businesses operating within sectors vulnerable to illegal working to explore working practices, attitudes to compliance with current regulations and methods used to evade checks and enforcement action.
Illegal working risks vary by sector and platform due to different processes such as verification checks or parallel requirements for insurance. Informal networks, such as friends and family, were often instrumental in facilitating such work.
Businesses in construction, beauty and car washes highlighted that sector-specific working procedures and norms could increase the risk of illegal working, especially where recruitment was conducted rapidly or through social networks. Sub-contracting was also perceived as a significant risk that could obscure workers’ identity from their ultimate employer. However, businesses were often inclined to believe that non-compliance resulted from error rather than intent.