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National Insurance - how some 'umbrella' contractors pay twice

Hundreds of thousands of people working as contractors are seeing up to 45 per cent of their pay disappearing due to a loophole in employment rules.

Hundreds of thousands of people working as contractors employed through umbrella companies are being forced to pay nearly half their income in tax and national insurance due to a loophole in employment rules. In effect they are treated as both employee and employer and pay double national insurance contributions. As a result a total of 45% of their often low pay disappears before they see it.

The European Health Insurance Card allows holders to receive the same state-provided medical care as the citizens of the country you're visiting but with the EU referendum looming, where would a Leave vote leave us?

After the price of oil tanked to historic lows at the start of 2016 it has now almost doubled from $27 to $50 a barrel. As a result petrol and diesel have gone up 10% from under £1 to around £1.10 at the pumps. With warnings that the price of domestic energy costs are set to rise too, is now the time to be looking for a fixed deal?

And closing the gender pay gap. We report on the University giving its female academics a pay rise that will bring their salaries up to those of their male colleagues.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Charmaine Cozier
Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: Andrew Smith.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Umbrella Companies

    National Insurance – how some ‘umbrella’ companies pay twice

    Duration: 09:59

  • Oil Prices

    How will oil prices affect fuelling our cars and heating our homes?

    Duration: 05:48

  • Gender Pay Gap

    The University offering a pay rise but only if you’re female.

    Duration: 02:40

  • EHIC

    What effect would a Brexit have on medical treatment in Europe?

    Duration: 04:37

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 Jun 2016 12:04
  • Sun 5 Jun 2016 21:00

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