New trends in self-employed work: the specific case of economically dependent self-employed work

EESC opinion: New trends in self-employed work: the specific case of economically dependent self-employed work

Key points

The opinion recommends that:

  • Means of drawing up an accurate statistical picture of economically dependent self-employed work in the European Union should be developed.
  • Studies permitting detailed analysis of national experiences in the area of economically dependent self-employed work should be promoted.
  • The issue of economically dependent self-employed work should be integrated explicitly into the Integrated Guidelines for Growth and Jobs, in ways to be determined.
  • The European social partners should be encouraged to include economically dependent self-employed work in their work programmes, at cross-sectoral and sectoral level. The joint analysis of European social partners published in October 2007 illustrates how important the issue of professional status is for those involved in the European social dialogue. In this context, it could be helpful to assess the opportunities for developing links between the European social partners and organisations (particularly national bodies) representing independent workers.
  • The aspects common to the definitions of employed persons in the different EU Member States should be identified, not least on the basis of the information and analyses gathered as a result of the above recommendations. Such an approach would be useful not only to help ensure the proper application of the existing European Labour Law Directives but also to gain a better insight into the increases in cross-border employment in Europe. It would also make it possible to obtain the information needed to gain a better understanding of what economically dependent self-employment work might cover. Before any attempt is made to gain a better insight into self-employed but economically dependent work, a clear, accurate definition of employees needs to be established.