Access to social welfare for the self-employed – analysis, limitations and scope for improvement

Key points

The EESC:

• recalls principle 12 of the European Pillar of Social Rights which affirms the right to social protection for all workers regardless of the type and duration of their employment relationship and, under comparable conditions, the self-employed persons;

• recalls the 2019 Council Recommendation on access to social protection and urges Member States to ensure effective coverage for all workers, including those in non-standard and self-employment, especially those engaged in platform work;

• acknowledges past efforts to improve social protection for the self-employed and stresses the need for continued EU action due to limited progress while fully respecting national and EU competences in this field;

• stresses the importance of developing and maintaining resilient employment retention schemes, including for the self-employed, and supports the ILO model for suitable and sustainable social protection systems which are essential prerequisites for ensuring a good quality of life for all;

• calls on the Member States, acting in accordance with national practices, to develop social protection systems covering all citizens, not just workers in standard or non-standard employment. These systems should provide a minimum income for those unable to work while supporting those who can through incentives and return-to-work assistance, in line with principle 14 of the European Pillar of Social Rights, while guaranteeing the financial stability of these social protections at all times;

• urges further measures to align labour market and social protection policies and continued monitoring of social protection issues, particularly for non-standard and self-employed workers, within the European Semester to identify and address gaps effectively and efficiently;

• advocates for further exchanges of best practices among Member States to adapt their social protection systems with appropriate involvement of the social partners organisations.