REDDITCH MP Chris Bloore has called for urgent reform of the UK’s employment status system, warning that too many workers are being denied basic rights under an “overly complex” and easily exploited framework.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on the single status of workers, Mr Bloore highlighted concerns raised by postal workers, delivery drivers and care workers across his constituency, who say the current system fails to reflect the reality of their working lives.
The MP warned that the existing three-tier system leaves many workers without job security, sick pay or employment protections, despite working regular hours in roles that resemble standard employment.
He said: “In my constituency, I hear from workers across a range of sectors who feel the current system simply does not reflect the reality of the work they do.
“Too often, people working regular hours and playing a vital role in our economy are told they are self-employed, with no access to basic protections. That is not genuine flexibility. It is insecurity dressed up as choice.”
Mr Bloore pointed to the scale of insecure work nationally, with estimates suggesting millions of workers are in precarious employment, including zero-hours contracts and forms of self-employment that lack basic safeguards.
He said: “Insecure work shows up in very real ways, from workers afraid to speak up about unsafe conditions, to families struggling to make ends meet because their hours and income are unpredictable.
“This is not just about employment law. It is about the cost of living and whether people can build a stable life.”
The MP highlighted particular concerns in sectors such as distribution and logistics, which are major employers in and around Redditch, where insecure working arrangements are especially common.
He also warned of the wider economic consequences, arguing that companies relying on insecure employment models can undercut responsible employers who provide fair pay and conditions.
Mr Bloore added: “That creates a race to the bottom. Decent employers are penalised for doing the right thing, while workers lose out on security, dignity and income and the Treasury loses revenue that should be supporting our public services.”
The MP, whose constituency also represents residents of Harvington and Norton, argued there is a strong case for moving towards a single status of worker, alongside a clear and robust test to distinguish genuine self-employment, ensuring flexibility does not become a loophole for avoiding rights.
He also raised concerns about gaps in whistleblowing protections, warning that too many workers are excluded simply because of their employment status.
“Ultimately, this comes down to a simple principle: people who work should have rights they can rely on.
“We need a system that reflects the modern labour market, closes loopholes and ensures every worker has access to dignity, security and fairness at work. For the people I represent, that change cannot come quickly enough.”
