The Government's going in to bat for vulnerable contractors.

It's proposing changes to improve their rights, while keeping the flexibility, independence, and other benefits of contracting - in arrangements where it works.

Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says some people are being forced to work long hours, for less than minimum wage, and are dependent on one business for all their income.

He wants to make sure employees are not misclassified as contractors, and miss out on their entitlements - either by mistake or to keep costs down.

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan says that there are a group of people who want to be contractors but are reliant on one business, who then have control over their careers. 

"What we'd like to do is afford more rights to those people."

Lees-Galloway says that those people under the current law should be deemed employees. 

"It's about having set hours, having no control over your own hours, not being able to work other employers." 

• Government's plans to protect vulnerable contractors criticised