An international perspective on zzp legislation: what can the Netherlands learn from other countries?
The discussion about zzp'ers and their position in the labor market has become increasingly prominent in recent years. Where is the line between self-employment and false self-employment? And how can we ensure that both self-employed people and companies are clear about their rights and obligations? These questions are central to the social and political debate, not only in the Netherlands, but worldwide. Therefore, we conducted an in-depth study of the laws and regulations surrounding self-employed workers in the Netherlands and seven other countries, including Belgium, Germany, and the United States.Our report offers a unique comparison of the ways in which different countries deal with the complex question: when may a company hire a zzp'er and when is permanent employment necessary? We looked at the definition of self-employment, the criteria for false self-employment, and the enforcement of the regulations in each country. What turns out? Each country has its own challenges, but there are also valuable lessons for the Netherlands.