International perspective on zzp legislation: What the Netherlands can learn from other countries
International perspective on zzp legislation: What the Netherlands can learn from other countries
Comparison of zzp legislation in the Netherlands and seven other countries with insights and recommendations for future policy.
"Put entrepreneurship and desire of self-employed and client central"
The distinction between a zzp'er and an employee is not only an issue for the Netherlands, the discussion also plays out in other countries. In a new report, HR-tech service provider HeadFirst Group, ONL for Entrepreneurs and independent platform ZiPconomy present valuable lessons that the new cabinet and Dutch politicians can learn from other Western countries. "There are countries where the 'will of the parties' plays an important role and where entrepreneurial criteria outweigh circumstances during the assignment. It is a missed opportunity for the Netherlands if we do not value these factors," said Marion van Happen, CEO at HeadFirst Group. Read the press release here.
ZiPtalk, the podcast of ZiPconomy
"First look at entrepreneurship in a self-employed person: in Belgium and Germany they already do it."
The relevance of the research for Dutch politics and polder was discussed in ZiPTalk, ZiPconomy's podcast. Sem Overduin joined the discussion on behalf of HeadFirst Group.
What will you find in this report?
- Understanding how different countries evaluate the employment relationship between client and self-employed worker.
- An overview of the main criteria and methods used internationally to prevent false self-employment.
- Concrete recommendations based on international best practices, tailored to the Dutch context.
- Analysis of sectoral differences and the specific challenges posed by certain occupations.
- Lessons from similar countries such as Belgium, Germany and the US.
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The economic and social value of independent professionals
The economic and social value of independent professionals
There are in the Netherlands some 110 thousand highly educated independent professionals, who collectively generate social added value of 4.4 billion euros per year. To dhe social costs and benefits of this specific target group mapping, has SEO Economic Research commissioned independent research done and released it in a report.
Source: CBS (2023) and ZEA (2023), edits SEO Economic Research (2023)
Policy discussion around hiring the self-employed
We believe it is important that the social and economic value of independent professionals be considered in the policy discussion surrounding the hiring of self-employed workers. However, insight into the social costs and benefits of this specific target group is lacking. This study fulfills this need and provides a clear overview based on facts and figures. Read the entire press release here.
Alternatives of being a zp
This study uses a social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) to map the social value of self-employed professionals and shows which parties bear the social costs and benefits of self-employment. It compares the current situation on the labor market (the policy alternative) with an imaginary situation on the labor market in which self-employed professionals are employed, whether or not in an alternative form of employment (the null alternative).
The null alternative (n = 110,000)
Source: own survey and CBS StatLine, edits SEO Economic Research (2023)
The economic and social impacts
The main economic effects of self-employment are higher labor demand and participation due to the additional opportunities that this form of specialized and temporary labor offers for clients and for self-employed workers. In addition, on average, self-employed workers are more productive than regular employees and seconded workers (which is reflected in the differences in labor costs per hour) because they are employed only within specific assignments and can focus fully and repeatedly on their expertise.
On balance, the additional social value of independent professionals amounts to about 4.4 billion euros per year. This social added value comes mainly from the additional production, profit and income due to higher labor demand among clients and higher labor participation and productivity among independent professionals compared to a situation without the self-employment.
The total overview of the annual social costs and benefits of self-employed professionals (the policy alternative) compared to a situation without self-employment (the null alternative). Source: SEO Economic Research (2023)
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Getting a grip on the zzp dossier. Facts and insights on self-employed workers in 2023
Getting a grip on the zzp dossier. Facts and insights on self-employed workers in 2023
In 2021, knowledge platform ZiPconomy released an independent and factual report on the zzp population in the Netherlands. A lot has changed in the past two years, so it was time for an update. In this renewed edition, we once again map the diversity of the target group to take the zzp dossier to the next level.
Self-employed workers more likely to work for multiple clients
Highly educated self-employed workers increasingly have more than three clients per year. In addition, the number of zzp'ers providing their own labor to organizations is declining slightly and only 2.7 percent of zzp'ers are working as entrepreneurs because the organization suggested this form of contract. Marion van Happen, CEO HeadFirst Group: "The self-employed are entrepreneurial and forced self-employment appears to be minimal. These are important insights for politicians in The Hague." Read the entire press release here.
Getting a grip on the diversity of the self-employed
There are 1.2 million self-employed people without personnel (zzp'ers) in the Netherlands. So one in eight people in paid work is a zzp'er. It is a diverse group in many ways. The report provides insight into the diverse composition of the self-employed based on demographics and business practices over the past 10 years. With an emphasis on self-employed own labor. Their numbers increased by nearly 50 percent. By 2023, for the first time, there were more than 1 million such self-employed workers (1,028,000).
Percentage of self-employed workers own labor relative to self-employed products
Greater understanding of self-employment
Of the self-employed own labor group, 65% work mainly for organizations, the rest work mainly for individuals. Within the b2b group, there are two types of entrepreneurs, freelancers and interim professionals. The starting motives are slightly different. Intelligence Group asked freelancers what the main reasons are for taking on an assignment.
Drives to say yes to assignment (self-employment)
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Independence, flexibility and social security. A look across the border.
Independence, flexibility and social security. A look across the border.
The Netherlands is not the only country to struggle with establishing work-related rules and regulations. Our neighboring countries are also dealing with a society that is increasingly modern, digitalized and flexible. That means it is worth your while to take a look at what is being done in other countries.
Newly sworn-in minister can immediately get started on the file for self-employed persons without employees
If it were up to Han Kolff, chair of HeadFirst Group's board of directors, and ONL CEO Hans Biesheuvel, the politician succeeding outgoing minister Wouter Koolmees as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Netherlands' new cabinet would start by focusing on the position of self-employed persons without employees in the job market. Flexible employment relationships are increasingly common around the globe and require clear rules and regulation. Judging from a study conducted by the ZiPconomy independent knowledge platform at the request of HeadFirst Group and ONL, there is much the Netherlands can learn from Belgium, California and Scandinavia in this regard. Read the entire press release here.
Also, view the round-table talks on the future of the labor market
Under the supervision of ONL founder Hans Biesheuvel, Han Kolff of HeadFirst Group, Jeroen Zwinkels (CEO of Manpower), Dominique Hermans (CEO of Randstad) and Cristel van de Ven (chair of VZN) discussed the future of the labor market.
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Yes, there is such a thing as the average self-employed person A few facts about self-employed people.
Yes, there is such a thing as the average self-employed person A few facts about self-employed people.
In this report - which was drawn up by an independent knowledge platform, ZiPconomy - we present some useful facts, figures and insights about self-employed persons without employees. With a view to showing how different and diverse this group is and raising the level of the public debate on the labor market.
Debate on the future of self-employed persons without employees tainted by incorrect data and misinterpretations.
Judging from a publication by the ZiPconomy independent knowledge platform, which analyzed the differences and diversity of self-employed persons without employees in the Netherlands at the request of HeadFirst Group and ONL for entrepreneurs, the political debate on the future of self-employed persons without employees in the labor market is subject to incorrect data and misinterpretations. Read the entire press release here.
Obviously, self-employed persons without employees exist, but they cannot be summed up in a one-size-fits-all definition.
'There is no such thing as a typical self-employed person without employees' is a cliché that is often heard in the political and social discussions that have been held in recent years. The saying indicates that self-employed persons, who number more than a million in the Netherlands, are a highly diverse group of workers. Ranging from freelance copywriters to interim managers and couriers who deliver parcels. And also including bakers, artists and therapists who work independently. Read more about it on ZiPconomy.
If we wish to have a more meaningful debate on self-employed persons without employees, it is vital that we use the right figures
Han Kolff, chair of HeadFirst Group's board of directors, discussed the report with BNR Radio. You can listen to the interview in the clip below.
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Independence, flexibility and social security. A look across the border.
Independence, flexibility and social security. A look across the border.
Not only here in the Netherlands do we struggle with laws and regulations surrounding work. The countries around us are also dealing with a society that is modernizing, digitizing and flexibilizing. For that reason, it is definitely worth taking a look into the kitchens of other countries.
New minister can get right to work on zzp dossier
If it were up to Han Kolff, chairman of the board at HeadFirst Group, and ONL chairman Hans Biesheuvel, the successor of outgoing minister Wouter Koolmees in a new cabinet would immediately start working on the position of the self-employed in the labor market. The flexibilization trend continues worldwide and requires good and clear regulation. The Netherlands can learn a lot from the situation in Belgium, California and Scandinavia. This emerges from research by independent knowledge platform ZiPconomy, commissioned by HeadFirst Group and ONL. Read the entire press release here.
Also watch the roundtable discussion on the future of the labor market
Led by ONL founder Hans Biesheuvel, Han Kolff (HeadFirst Group), Jeroen Zwinkels (CEO Manpower) and Dominique Hermans (CEO Randstad) and chairman Cristel van de Ven of Vereniging Zelfstandigen Nederland spoke about the future of the labor market.
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The self-employed do exist. Facts about the self-employed
The self-employed do exist. Facts about the self-employed
With this report - compiled by independent knowledge platform ZiPconomy - we list valuable facts, figures and insights about the self-employed. The goal: to map the heterogeneity and diversity of the target group and raise the public debate about the labor market to a higher level.
Wrong data & interpretations color debate on future of self-employment
The political debate about the future of the self-employed in the labor market is conducted on the basis of wrong data and misinterpretations. This emerges from a publication by independent knowledge platform ZiPconomy, which was commissioned by HeadFirst Group and ONL voor Ondernemers to map the heterogeneity and diversity of the self-employed population in the Netherlands. Read the entire press release here.
Self-employed people exist, of course, but cannot be defined
'The self-employed person does not exist' is a cliché that has regularly recurred in the political-social debate in recent years. It indicates that the total group of more than a million self-employed persons without personnel is very diverse. Think freelance copywriters, interim managers and package deliverers. Then there are the bakers on the corner, the artists, the self-employed therapists. Read more at ZiPconomy.
To take the self-employed debate to the next level, the right numbers are crucial
Han Kolff, chairman of the board of HeadFirst Group talked to BNR Radio about the report. Listen back to the interview via the excerpt below.
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Annual Report 2021
HeadFirst Group Report
Download de Talent Monitor
We make available each quarter - based on Intelligence Group's recruitment data and HeadFirst Group's hiring data - unique insights on labor market related themes in our 'Talent Monitor'.
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