The Court of Appeal has ruled that a plumber, described by his employer as ‘self-employed’ should receive some of the same basic employment rights as a ‘worker’ for the company.
Brought against Pimlico Plumbers, London’s largest independent plumbing company, it is thought that the case will have implications for other companies that employ lots of self-employed workers.
A similar court battle was won by two Uber drivers last year in a landmark ruling for so-called ‘gig economy’ workers.
But some experts have warned that it is too early to make sweeping generalisations about self-employed contractors in other industries.
