Source · Select Committees · Culture, Media and Sport Committee
Recommendation 40
40
Accepted
Systemic working condition issues persist in film and HETV, causing worker loss.
Recommendation
The film and HETV industry will continue to lose workers if it does not address systemic issues with working conditions, and the Government should hold it accountable for doing so. The prioritisation of the predominantly freelance creative industries in the industrial strategy, and the Government’s wider commitment to employment rights, makes the case for giving freelancers a dedicated voice within policymaking stronger than ever. (Conclusion, Paragraph 141)
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the need for a dedicated freelance voice and will appoint a creative freelance champion within DCMS by 2025 to advocate for the sector. It also highlights broader measures to strengthen rights and protections for the self-employed.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government is committed to strengthening rights and protections to deliver good quality self-employment. DCMS will appoint a creative freelance champion to advocate for the sector’s freelancers within government. This is different to a commissioner role which requires establishing infrastructure and would take longer to implement. We will work closely with industry to develop this role, with a champion appointed in 2025. More widely, we have already announced a package of measures to tackle late payments for small businesses and the self-employed, including a new Fair Payment Code, and are committed to introducing the right to a written contract, extension of health and safety and blacklisting protections for the self-employed. The government has no plans to introduce a guaranteed basic income for creative freelancers, or minimum hourly wage over and above the national minimum wage. The government will continue to support industry to deliver the Good Work Review Action Plan to strengthen job quality across the sector, which includes support for the self-employed. The BFI has invested £1.5 million of National Lottery funding in WorkWise for Screen20 – providing industry with free-to-access resources and guidance to aid improved working practices such as contracting compliance, employment law and HR best practice. The BFI is also commissioning independent research which seeks to help productions find the ‘sweet spot’ between improving employment practices and worker retention whilst maintaining financial viability.