Fair treatment of freelancers

The nature of the television production and broadcasting industry means that ITV hires a high number of freelancers.

We provide each of them with a contract that clearly describes the terms on which they are engaged with ITV. The terms we offer them are comparable with those of an ITV employee, although freelancers do not qualify for some of the benefits we offer employees for long service.

Performers

We negotiate contracts with performers through agents or lawyers under collective agreements with trade unions including Equity, the Musicians Union and the Writers Guild of Great Britain.

We cast children to appear in some programmes. We comply with child employment law including the UK government’s Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act which stipulates that, from October 2009, ITV must carry out appropriate checks and vetting procedures on any individuals who may come into contact with children or vulnerable adults as part of their role. We follow the Producers’ Rights Agency guidelines on child performers and were involved in creating an industry Code of Conduct for employing children in entertainment. Casting teams must also follow ITV’s own guidelines on working with children.