Source: Service Management
The Zelfstandigen Nederland (VZN) Association sees a number of proposals from the SER opinion on the approach to flex work. For instance, the self-employed organisation sees no point in working with what it calls a minimum rate.
“Being able to negotiate your own rate is precisely what we see as an important criterion for self-employment, as is having a financial buffer to cover social and entrepreneurial risks in your own way,” says VZN president Cristel van de Ven.
Borstlap: hourly rate is vulnerable point
“An hourly rate for self-employed workers of 35 euros is a vulnerability,” Hans Borstlap told BNR Nieuwsradio. He is former chairman of the Borstlap committee that laid the groundwork for the historic SER opinion and the agreement between unions and employers to reform the labour market.
“You can question whether any hourly rate helps for distinction, you get enforcement issues, one has to see how that plays out, it is a vulnerable point, it is an elaboration point,” Borstlap said.
No minimum rate but income limit
Top woman Ingrid Thijssen of employers“ organisation VNO-NCW disputes that the agreement would include a minimum rate for self-employed workers. ”What there will be is an income limit, which is 30 to 35 euros. If the amount is below that, we advise assuming someone is an employee and not self-employed. But he can still choose to be self-employed,“ she told BNR Nieuwsradio. Describing that as a minimum rate, she said, is a ”misrepresentation".
Compulsory disability insurance
If it were up to the employers and trade unions in the Social and Economic Council (SER), there would be, among other things, compulsory disability insurance for self-employed people. Also, the self-employed deduction should be phased out and self-employed entrepreneurs should start contributing to a safety net in case of a drop in demand.
Position of self-employed must improve
Van de Ven indicates that VZN thinks in a different direction than the SER. “We agree on two things; that the position of the self-employed on the labour market must improve, and that there are abuses at the base of the labour market that we need to address. However, the solution directions of the SER and VZN are far apart.”
Instead of phasing out the self-employed deduction, VZN advocates converting tax schemes for the self-employed. Entrepreneurs would then be able to use their buffer to bridge unexpected periods of drop in demand or illness. Van de Ven considers it a missed opportunity that the SER turned down the offer of self-employed organisations to think and act together.
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