Workwell™ has today become one of the first Umbrella companies to support JobsAware, the government’s free help and advice service to workers.

The pilot is part of a wider set of co-regulation schemes developed by JobsAware and UK government with the aim of raising standards in the labour market and stamping out non-compliance.

JobsAware stated that with a change of Prime Minister imminent, the announcement comes against a backdrop of uncertainty for both the Employment Bill and Single Enforcement Body, both initiatives designed to protect UK workers.

Partnering with the umbrella sector, which accounts for more than 400,000 contractors and freelancers, is key to improving standards in the sector and generating data on non-compliant practices to drive more enforcement action within the flexible labour market.

As a participating umbrella organisation, we will initially be able to show our support for worker rights by advertising the JobsAware service via payslips and other means. The move comes after the JobsAware Payment Intermediaries sub-committee, a joint committee of payroll companies, trade bodies, and government agencies, agreed a first set of principles for joint working and promotion of the service

Head of Accounting, Chris James, Workwell™, said:

“JobsAware’s mission is one we whole-heartedly endorse. The Taylor Review and Good Work Plan highlighted the need to improve worker rights in the UK and the JobsAware scheme is playing a crucial role. As the UK’s largest Umbrella and contractor accountancy firm, we were only too pleased to support the organisation and its important work, particularly in relation to temporary workers. We’re looking forward to meeting with the various partner organisations and helping to inform policy about the UK’s thriving labour market which we believe should be good for workers and good for businesses alike.”

JobsAware Chair, Keith Rosser, said:

“By working closely with the umbrella sector, we believe we can reach an even larger audience to help address critical sector issues, share information and tackle the non-compliance that we know the industry can face”.

The agreed principles of joint working with key members of the umbrella sector are:

• Demonstrate that Payment Intermediary partners are working proactively to protect contractor rights.
• A place to refer contractors that have concerns about their employment.
• A place to refer contractors that need general employment help or advice.
• An opportunity for Payment Intermediary partners to engage with UK Government, through the sub-committee, to discuss issues and opportunities in the sector.
• A place for Payment Intermediary partners to report abuse, such as contractor fraud.

More about JobsAware

JobsAware is a non-profit social enterprise originally set up by the Metropolitan Police to help prevent scams in the labour market. JobsAware enjoys cross-government support.

JobsAware, which provides free online help and advice to those finding work or in non-permanent work, also supplies data on non-compliance to regulators, law enforcement, and trade bodies as appropriate, as well as working with the government on enforcement action against non-compliant organisations.

For more information, please visit https://www.jobsaware.co.uk/