Our freelance members often tell us that the most frustrating aspect of their job is not being paid in a timely way for work they have done — and now we can try to do something about this.
MJA Vice Chair and freelancer Emma Wilkinson says, “It can feel like banging your head against a brick wall when stagnant rates, payment on publication, kill fees and onerous invoicing systems are so prevalent in the industry.”
The Department for Business and Trade has launched a consultation on late payments and proposes cutting the statutory period for business debt from 60 to 45 days, as well as measures to stop big companies using their financial muscle to mistreat smaller contractors.
Chasing payments
As Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the launch, “Too many hardworking people are being forced to spend precious hours chasing payments instead of doing what they do best… It’s unfair, it’s exhausting, and it’s holding Britain back. So, our message is clear: it’s time to pay up.”
This consultation is not specific to journalism, but we know all too well that freelance journalists are routinely kept waiting for payment by some of the biggest names in the media. And this is an issue we’ve flagged in the past.
Now is our chance to urge the Government to introduce legislation to ensure fairer practice.
Response
If work is delivered on time and to an agreed brief, it must be paid for promptly, whatever industry you work in.
The MJA will be submitting a response, so please share any examples or thoughts via comments below, or email us at admin@mjauk.org. The consultation closes on October 23.
The National Union of Journalists has produced guidance on how to go about it with templates and this is available to anyone as a resource.
Submit your response at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/late-payments-tackling-poor-payment-practices/late-payments-consultation-tackling-poor-payment-practices