Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to broaden employment rights in the UK which includes the protection of gig economy workers.

May stated that if her Conservative Party wins the general election on 8 June, her plan will include the “greatest extension of rights and protections for employees by any Conservative government in history”. Protections for workers in gig economy, which includes drivers working for Uber, Deliveroo, and Hermes, follow recommendations from a review into UK working practices by Matthew Taylor that May commissioned last year.

Among the other pledges set to be revealed in the Conservative Manifesto, which is due to be published this week, include:

1. Guaranteeing that workers will enjoy the same rights after Brexit as they do under the EU.
2. Increasing the National Living Wage in line with earnings until the end of parliament.
3. Protections for "gig" economy workers, with a consultation on rights such as maternity leave.
4. Worker representation on company boards.
5. Giving workers the same right on information on their company's future as shareholders.
6. New right to request leave for training.
7. New right to care for sick relatives full-time.
8. New rules to protect pensions from bosses' irresponsible behaviour.
9. Extending the Equalities Act for those with mental health conditions.
10. Right to child bereavement leave.
11. "Returnships" for mothers going back to work after a baby.

“I said I would use Brexit to extend the protections and rights that workers enjoy, and our manifesto will deliver exactly that,” May said.

May’s Manifesto will reportedly include guarantees to end free movement of EU citizens, to leave the European single market and to end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

The Labour Manifesto was published yesterday which went further in promising to protect workers’ rights. Labour MP, Yvette Cooper commented “Who do the Tories think they are kidding? The idea that their party can ever be relied upon to protect workers’ rights is a joke. One look at Theresa May’s own personal record shows why you can’t believe a word they say when they claim to care about employment rights.”