Stricter freelancer rules putting more pressure on healthcare workers: ING

Healthcare workers are under even more pressure since the government took stricter action against fake self-employment. They are having to work with fewer people, researchers from ING Research concluded. “The already long waiting times for patients are at risk of becoming even longer,” they warn.

As in other sectors, healthcare workers are only allowed to work as freelancers if they are fully self-employed and doing work that can’t be done by an employed worker. If not, they must be hired as employees. As a result, many freelancers have left the healthcare sector.

According to ING research, the departed freelancers have left a gap that “has so far only been partially filled by other flexible or permanent staff.” The remaining employees are compensating for this “by providing more care in fewer hours.”

Trade union CNV agrees that the workload is “almost entirely” falling on permanent employees, “who are already running out of steam.” The union surveyed 550 healthcare workers. 59 percent said they are experiencing more scheduling problems due to the departure of freelancers, and 53 percent are experiencing increased workload. According to CNV, healthcare employers have missed an opportunity to make permanent employment more attractive.

ING researchers estimate that almost one in ten healthcare workers was self-employed last year. That’s twice as many as ten years ago. However, since last year, the number of self-employed healthcare workers has been declining, particularly in home care. Approximately 10,000 self-employed healthcare workers are considering leaving the sector altogether.

To address this, healthcare institutions are increasingly using technology. Patients are being monitored remotely at home, reducing the need for doctor visits. Informal caregivers also help to alleviate the burden on healthcare workers.