This is what the political parties want to do for the self-employed

The VVD is committed to the further development (and eventual implementation) of the aforementioned Self-Employed Persons Act. The proposal aims to provide greater legal clarity regarding the rights and obligations of self-employed individuals and clients through a self-employment and employment relationship assessment. Part of this proposal also includes additional obligations and responsibilities for the self-employed, such as arranging coverage for disability and retirement. Furthermore, the party supports the introduction of a legal presumption of employment in cases of low hourly rates and the introduction of mandatory disability insurance for the self-employed, though with an opt-out option. Prospective Member of Parliament Claire Martens-America provided further clarification on the VVD’s plans in an interview with ZZP Kiest.  

Like the VVD, the social liberals support the further development and implementation of the Self-Employed Persons Act. According to the party, it is high time that “clarity is provided regarding the status of the self-employed.” Furthermore, the legal presumption of employee status will be introduced for those earning a low hourly rate, and the differences between employees and the self-employed in social security and taxation must be reduced. Finally, D66 supports the introduction of mandatory, affordable group disability insurance for the self-employed, in accordance with the recommendation of the Labor Foundation. In a podcast, parliamentary candidate Hans Vijlbrief discussed D66’s plans.  

GroenLinks-PvdA prioritizes security, including for self-employed workers: the party aims to combat bogus self-employment by stepping up enforcement and holding clients more accountable. The party supports the “employee unless” principle, and self-employed workers may only be hired for assignments that do not fall within the organization’s regular activities. There should also be mandatory disability insurance for all self-employed workers, including a fair contribution from the client and an income-based premium. In an interview with ZZP Kiest, parliamentary candidate Mariëtte Patijn provided more clarity on the coalition party’s plans. 

The CDA advocates clarifying the status of self-employed individuals by amending the law. Incidentally, the Self-Employed Persons Act is not explicitly mentioned in the election platform. However, according to the CDA, self-employed individuals should take responsibility for securing an income in the event of disability, and a legal presumption of employment based on a certain hourly rate should offer greater protection to vulnerable workers with low hourly rates. 

The Socialist Party views the rise in the number of self-employed workers as a result of an over-flexible labor market. According to the party, anyone who works for a single client on a long-term basis should be employed as a regular employee. Forced self-employment must be combated. To protect self-employed workers, a collective and public solution for disability and retirement benefits will be implemented. 

Notably, the BBB does not support either the VBAR bill or the Self-Employed Persons Act. Through a “VAR-light” system, clients and self-employed individuals should be given more certainty up front. Excessive regulation is rejected, and self-employed individuals at the bottom of the labor market—earning less than €36 per hour—should be protected through a legal presumption of employment. The party supports plans to introduce disability insurance, but with an opt-out option. Prospective Member of Parliament Henk Vermeer provided further clarification on the BBB’s plans in an interview with ZZP Kiest.

NSC supports the plans and proposals outlined in the Borstlap Commission’s January 2020 report. According to NSC, this recommendation forms the basis for a fair and future-proof labor market. Self-employed individuals should be given clarity regarding the framework within which they can conduct their business. The law will establish a legal presumption of employment status for hourly rates below €36, and the party supports the introduction of the bill on Basic Disability Insurance for the Self-Employed (BAZ). In this interview, prospective Member of Parliament Tjebbe van Oostenbruggen provides further explanation of the NSC’s platform.  

JA21 wants to simplify the regulations governing the hiring of self-employed individuals. To provide more clarity for self-employed individuals, the party is looking to the Belgian model. The party does not want mandatory disability insurance for self-employed individuals. However, the party does want to abolish tax provisions such as the self-employed tax deduction and the start-up tax deduction. 

According to the SGP, the ongoing uncertainty facing self-employed individuals must come to an end. Therefore, this group should receive legal recognition through the establishment of a clear definition with corresponding criteria. The party supports the implementation of the Self-Employed Persons Act, and enforcement efforts against bogus self-employment should focus on certain high-risk sectors. Furthermore, the party supports mandatory disability insurance for self-employed individuals, but with an opt-out option. Self-employed individuals in the agricultural sector are exempt from this insurance requirement. As far as the SGP is concerned, self-employed individuals can continue to be called upon during “peak periods and when sick.” 

According to DENK, self-employed individuals who consciously choose to be independent entrepreneurs should be given the freedom to do so. There must be a workable legal framework for self-employment, so that there is no longer any ambiguity for self-employed individuals and clients. The party does not support the VBAR bill, but nor does it explicitly express support for the Self-Employed Persons Act. The party also wants to see the introduction of an affordable and collectively organized disability insurance program. DENK is open to an opt-out option. 

The ChristenUnie supports the introduction of the VBAR bill to provide greater clarity for clients and self-employed individuals. The differences between the self-employed and employees must be reduced. According to the party, tax benefits for the self-employed should be phased out at a reasonable pace and consolidated into a single earned income tax credit, and mandatory disability insurance for the self-employed is necessary.