Will legislating the gig economy stifle employment?

Alleged breaches of a new employment law will be contested by employers claiming to be nothing of the kind

The wide-ranging Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 moved to committee stage in the Dáil last month. The draft legislation is, among other things, an attempt to regulate the fast-developing gig economy.

Most common law jurisdictions divide workers into those who are employed and those who are self-employed.

The difficulty for the government is that individuals working in the gig economy tend not to fit into either category.

Although gig economy workers typically enjoy ...