Enforcement of rules against bogus self-employment makes it harder for six in ten self-employed workers to secure assignments

Dissatisfaction with Government Communication

Despite this increased pressure, leaving self-employment does not seem to be a serious consideration for most people. Four in ten say they are not thinking about it. Those who would like to continue working as self-employed individuals do, however, expect clarity from the government. There is still much room for improvement in this area. More than two-thirds (69%) say they are familiar with the enforcement strategy, but at the same time, 71 percent are dissatisfied with the way the government provides information through its own channels regarding the enforcement of bogus self-employment. Self-employed individuals are even more critical when it comes to practical interpretation. 77 percent say they do not know which assignments they are or are not allowed to perform as self-employed individuals.

Mixed views on the BAZ and Self-Employed Persons Act bills

Self-employed individuals were also asked for their opinions regarding the bills on Basic Disability Insurance for the Self-Employed (BAZ) and the Self-Employed Persons Act.

Opinions are divided on these issues as well. Regarding the BAZ—which was officially submitted to the House of Representatives on Friday, March 13—nearly 38 percent are in favor of mandatory disability insurance, while 39 percent consider it a bad idea. At the same time, the vast majority of self-employed individuals have already made their own provisions for disability and retirement. Nearly 60 percent are saving, and nearly 50 percent already have private disability insurance. 

The Self-Employed Persons Act, which aims to clarify which types of work a self-employed person is permitted to perform, has yet to win people over. Only slightly more than a quarter of self-employed individuals (28%) expect this law to achieve that goal in practice.

Sem Overduin, Manager of Public Affairs & Public Policy at HeadFirst Group: “The results paint a clear picture of the sentiment among highly educated self-employed professionals. Clients are more hesitant to hire self-employed professionals, and that uncertainty directly translates into fewer assignments. At the same time, the opinion survey shows that there is a great need for clear communication from the government, especially at a time when a lot of misinformation is circulating on social media. We call on the government to communicate actively, concretely, and clearly about what is and isn’t possible. With clear information, the market can once again work with independent professionals in full confidence, because in a tight labor market, we desperately need every worker.”