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Remote Work Era Brings Uncertainty to Employment Rights
In today’s gig economy, where remote and mobile working is increasingly common, concerns are growing about the impact on employment rights. The Department of Social Welfare has identified false self-employment and employer practices as a major issue, with potentially serious consequences for workers.
False Self-Employment: A Growing Concern
According to the department, false self-employment is not only costing the Social Insurance Fund dearly but also denying affected workers their rightful employment benefits. To tackle this problem, the department is launching a range of initiatives aimed at cracking down on rogue employers and ensuring that workers are treated fairly.
Initiatives to Combat False Self-Employment
These measures include:
- Establishing a new unit of social welfare inspectors dedicated to investigating false self-employment cases
- Increasing the number of employer inspections carried out annually
- Rolling out training programs for inspectors to enhance their skills in managing these investigations
- Reviewing and placing on statutory footing the “Code of Practice” for determining employment and self-employment status
Variable Earnings and Flexible Hours: A New Reality
In today’s remote work era, many employees enjoy more flexibility in their working hours and earning patterns. While this can be beneficial for some, it also creates uncertainty around employment benefits and taxes. The department is working to ensure that workers are not unfairly disadvantaged by these changes.
Increased Focus on Predictive Modeling
The department is also investing in predictive modeling technology to better identify potential cases of false self-employment and employer fraud. This approach aims to detect issues earlier, preventing losses to the Social Insurance Fund and ensuring that workers receive their rightful benefits.
Control Surveys: A New Approach
The department has announced plans to shift its control surveys from standalone, point-in-time exercises to a continuous and rolling sampling process. This new approach aims to provide more accurate and up-to-date information on employment fraud and ensure that the department is better equipped to respond to emerging trends and issues.
Predicted Targets for 2019
The department has set ambitious targets for 2019, including:
- Achieving savings of €530 million through its control surveys
- Recovering overpayments worth €95 million
- Issuing new cases for several benefit schemes
- Developing predictive modeling tools for other programs
By tackling false self-employment and employer fraud head-on, the Department of Social Welfare aims to protect workers’ rights and ensure that the social insurance system remains fair and effective in today’s rapidly changing employment landscape.