Abstract
In this paper, we examine the PRCM disaster in detail, revisiting the debates concerning the differences between “an independent contractor” versus “an employee” with the aim of shifting the focus from the employee and employment to the idea of working and the organisation of this work. While we acknowledge that debates on how “independent contractors” are defined have been “interminable”, the question still remains: what is “an employee” and more importantly what is “an independent contractor”? Furthermore, in this paper, our focus is on “independent contactors” as single individuals who may or may not have a contractual relationship with others as employees or other dependent or independent contractors.