VVD joins opposition parties with new freelancer proposal to create more legal clarity
A coalition of four Dutch political parties—VVD, D66, CDA, and SGP—has introduced a new initiative law aimed at ending the growing uncertainty surrounding self-employed workers (zzp'ers) in the Netherlands, according to Financieel Dagblad (FD).
This move follows concerns raised by the Dutch tax authorities' enforcement of regulations against pseudo-self-employment, which has caused confusion about who qualifies as a legitimate self-employed worker.
The coalition warns that many companies, fearing penalties for misclassifying workers, have been reluctant to hire zzp'ers, leading to unnecessary job losses. They argue that the new law will provide clarity and legal certainty for both freelancers and their clients.
The law proposes the establishment of a commission to help determine whether a worker is truly self-employed or should be classified as an employee, a model already in use in Belgium.
The coalition’s proposal focuses on the agreements made between zzp'ers and clients, aiming to prevent misclassification and ensure that both parties understand their roles. They also support a "legal presumption," allowing self-employed workers earning less than 33 euros per hour to claim employee rights more easily.
The parties stress that there should still be a level playing field between self-employed workers and salaried employees, with zzp'ers being responsible for their own insurance and pensions.
Minister of Social Affairs, Eddy van Hijum, also supports clearer legal guidelines on defining self-employment. However, the coalition remains skeptical of his approach, which they believe focuses too heavily on comparing zzp'ers' work to regular employees.
The proposal has garnered support from various politicians, including Thierry Aartsen (VVD), Hans Vijlbrief (D66), Inge van Dijk (CDA), and André Flach (SGP), who all anticipate greater clarity for the self-employed workforce.
