Why could the Bill not be drafted to include self-employed persons?
Mr Gamble: Work is ongoing to consider the question of employee status, and I do not claim expertise in this matter. Apparently it is very complicated and includes people such as agency workers. There are a variety of employment relationships, including self-employed people. The Bill is deliberately restricted to employees because there is a clear employer/employee relationship. It is difficult to see why a self-employed person would need to be given the right to take adoption or parental leave. The Chairperson: Employees of companies receive pay during such leave. Mr Gamble: Self-employed people would not be eligible for pay during the time that they took off. Broadly speaking, the taxation system is said to be slanted or weighted so that self-employed people get a reasonable deal from the taxman and should be able to make arrangements for leave because of that. There is little reason why the state should pay self-employed people to take time off from their own business. The Chairpers
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