Basic social system for all employed gains supporters among self-employed workers

Over 60 percent of highly educated self-employed people support a basic social system for all workers in the labor market. This is evident from research by HR service provider HeadFirst Group, in which over 1,700 self-employed professionals (zp'ers) recently participated. A wide support compared to the support for a compulsory disability insurance (AOV) for self-employed, where just 70 percent feels nothing for it. It makes Han Kolff, CEO at HeadFirst Group, feel positive. "We embrace the idea of creating a more level social playing field. Every individual in the Netherlands - regardless of the form of work and employment relationship - is entitled to protection and security."

Last month, the SER issued the advice to create a social safety net for the self-employed for special and unforeseen circumstances. Self-employed people should contribute to this themselves. Kolff goes a step further and advocates a basic provision for all employed people, as proposed in the social agreement between ONL, VZN and AVV. "Don't make the zzp'er an exception, but offer a broad safety net. We are moving towards a labor market in which the work is central, not the contract or legal form. Therefore, it is important to create securities that move with the challenges and changes people encounter in their working lives."

Security at the level of individual
Kolff is fed into this by the opinions of self-employed people. Research by HeadFirst Group shows that especially in the field of disability a basic system scores high: 61 percent are in favor. Sickness and unemployment has fewer supporters, but is certainly not excluded with 41 and 24 percent. "Solidarity among self-employed people is high. Still, I was surprised by the number of self-employed people willing to contribute to a basic social system, for disability in particular. If in this way we can protect the needy self-employed and leave the rest free to do business, then we are really taking a step in the right direction. It is up to the new cabinet to pick up this gauntlet and get serious about this," Kolff stressed.

Support for compulsory AOV low
The SER also announced its adherence to the agreement in the Pension Agreement to make it compulsory for self-employed persons to have insurance against disability to prevent unfair competition and large income risks for individuals. In March last year, the Labor Foundation came up with a proposal for the implementation of compulsory AOV. This proposal drew criticism from self-employed individuals' organizations. The Tax and Customs Administration and the UWV also informed outgoing Minister Koolmees that they had doubts about the technical implementation. Yet it seems that the plan is not yet off the table. However, the government cannot count on the support of self-employed workers; only 30 percent are positive.

Half of self-employed workers have nothing arranged
Currently, half of the self-employed have covered the risks of occupational disability themselves - for example, through a private party or a mutual fund. The most important reason for self-employed workers to take out insurance is that they are unwilling (53 percent) or unable (21 percent) to bear the financial risk themselves. Another 16 percent cannot fall back on their partner's income. Of the self-employed who have not taken out disability insurance, 35 percent say they can bear the financial risk. Furthermore, one in five feels the costs do not outweigh the benefits and 11 percent consider the risk of disability low.

About HeadFirst Group
HeadFirst Group is a leading, international HR service provider and specialist in the professional organization of permanent and flexible labor. The organization offers a diversity of HR solutions: Managed Service Providing, Recruitment Process Outsourcing, intermediary services (matchmaking, contracting) and HR consultancy. An average of fifteen thousand professionals work daily for over four hundred clients in Europe, with which HeadFirst Group realizes an annual turnover of over 1.5 billion euros. The main brands of HeadFirst Group are the intermediaries HeadFirst, Between and Myler, MSP service provider Staffing Management Services and RPO and recruitment specialist Sterksen.

Note to editors
All outcomes of the study have been compiled into aninfographic.

Do you have any questions or comments in response to this press release? Feel free to contact Bart van der Geest, manager of marketing & communications at HeadFirst Group, reachable at 023 - 568 56 30 or bart.vandergeest@headfirst.nl.