As a former VVD MP and now director of industry organization Bovib, Bart Smals is committed to the rights of the self-employed and the position of the intermediary industry within a rapidly changing labor market. In conversation with Sem Overduin, Corporate Affairs & Public Policy Manager at HeadFirst Group, Smals highlights the lack of a legal framework for modern working and shares his vision for the future. He advocates more freedom of choice: "Going into paid employment is a right, but the right not to do so should be better guaranteed." What does the expiring enforcement moratorium mean for the self-employed and intermediaries? And where will the Bovib be in five years? In this interview, Smals looks back at the zzp dossier in 2024, shares his insights and takes a critical look ahead to 2025.

You've been with the Bovib for a few weeks now. How do you like it so far?

Very good. There are actually two reasons why I like it so much. First of all, my interest in the labor market file has never gone away and at the Bovib I can take that further. In addition, the Bovib is an organization that is growing fast, building on that is fantastic. The organization is becoming more and more visible and I feel responsible to continue that line. There is a lot of work to do in the area of representing the self-employed, who often fall between the cracks. A clear legal framework for this is still lacking and I would like to contribute to that as director of the Bovib.

What was your main reason for joining Bovib?

The way the labor market is currently legally structured no longer reflects reality. The labor market is becoming more flexible, but there is no good legal framework to support that. Wage employment is no longer taken for granted for workers; the Bovib is responding well to this change.

What do you think is Bovib's role in that labor market and in the social playing field? 

Simply put: connecting supply and demand, like an oil man. The Bovib fulfills a modern role within the coalition of industry associations that support the flexible labor market. The need for flexible work comes not only from companies, but also from workers themselves. Bovib members open up the labor market and support clients in complying with laws and regulations.

Under your leadership, where will the Bovib be in five years?

I hope that we will then have a solution to the need for modern and flexible working, and that false self-employment will have been effectively addressed. The Bovib will then play a crucial role in connecting supply and demand and supporting clients, suppliers and self-employed workers.

The enforcement moratorium expires on Jan. 1, 2025. Do Bovib members know what awaits them?

I don't think anyone really knows. Everyone is looking for clarity, but the various rulings and rules - such as the Deliveroo judgment and comments by the minister and state secretary - do complicate things. The goal is to prevent false self-employment, and Bovib members are doing their best to do so. The problem is that no one at the front end, from the ministry to the Tax Office, can really say when you are compliant. Ideally there would be a traffic light model that you can rely on, rather than a situation where you have to wait and see, but we have to deal with this situation.

What do you notice about members leading up to January 2025?

Members are busy having conversations with clients and trying to advise on hiring policies based on the Deliveroo ruling. It is good that these talks are now being held and that Bovib members are taking a proactive role. Bovib members are professional organizations and take that responsibility.

As a former House member, how do you view the House's response to the enforcement plans of the Cabinet and the Internal Revenue Service?

The Chamber is right to be critical. The enforcement moratorium was put in place in 2016 because there was no clear legislation, that still hasn't changed. The Supreme Court has further colored the case law with the Deliveroo ruling, but it is really up to the legislature to provide clear legislation. In the Netherlands you have the right to work as an employee, but also the right not to. That deserves a good legal framework.

Did the end of the enforcement moratorium play a role in your political work?

Sure. At my first debate, MP Senna Maatoug of GroenLinks asked why the VVD, nota bene the party of enforcement, was so against enforcement of the DBA law. My answer was simple: if there is no clear law, you can't enforce it. I am in favor of enforcement, but only if there is a good legal framework. When even the judiciary says "approach it holistically," the answer is often "it depends.

As a VVD MP, you were critical of the VBAR and the role of entrepreneurial criteria. How do you currently view the VBAR?

When I was in the Chamber, I thought it was important to stand up for the right to free choice: you should be able to choose to be an entrepreneur. That should be reflected in the VBAR. The Borstlap Commission stated: 'fixed less fixed and flex less flex' - more balance in the labor market by making fixed contracts more flexible and flexible contracts more secure. But the way the VBAR looks now, it hardly matches that vision anymore. That's a shame. The right to entrepreneurship must be guaranteed. The VBAR should not force people into being employees if people do not want to be.

You also spoke out as a member of parliament about the representation of zzp'ers in the polder, for example in the SER. Why is that important?

I am a great supporter of the polder model because it brings different interests together to then reach solutions. But the interests of some groups, such as the self-employed, are not sufficiently taken into account. For a well-functioning polder it is essential that all interests are represented. I am therefore pleased that the SER now has seats for the self-employed - so they finally get a voice in decision-making.

Would the Bovib benefit from greater zzp representation in the polder?

Yes, definitely. The Bovib is growing and becoming more visible. A greater representation of zzp'ers would be good. Of course, the Bovib is not a union for the self-employed, but the self-employed are an important part of the labor market and the services provided by our members.

2024 has been an eventful year for the self-employed. What was a highlight for you?

Then I would like to go back a little further than 2024. In late 2023, Josette Dijkhuizen became a crown member of the SER because of her expertise on the self-employed. That is a step in the right direction, to give the interests of the self-employed a better place in the polder. Within the SER, after all, important long-term decisions are made regarding socio-economic policy in our country.

And a low point?

That the VBAR, in almost unchanged form, was sent to the Council of State. As a member of Parliament, and several parties with me, I was critical of the content of the VBAR. In my opinion, too little was done with it at the time. The Internet consultation in the fall of 2023 also produced many critical - and at the same time valuable - responses. The Council of State has now come out with a critical opinion and is bouncing the ball back. This could have been prevented at an earlier stage by making changes to the bill.

What do you expect from 2025 in this area?

I hope that the enforcement on false self-employment will mainly tackle the rogue parties and will protect vulnerable self-employed people. Especially at the base of the labor market the problems occur. That segment deserves extra attention and hopefully enforcement on labor relations will contribute to that in a positive way.

*This interview is part of a series, in which in recent weeks the Public Affairs team has interviewed several experts closely involved in issues surrounding the self-employed and the labor market. The series consists of six interviews, which will be published in the coming weeks.

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Sem Overduin
Public Policy & Affairs Manager
Sem.Overduin@headfirst.nl

Oifik Youssefi
Public Affairs Officer
Oifik.Youssefi@headfirst.nl

Maaike van Driel
Head of Legal
Maaike.vanDriel@headfirst.group

Thomas ten Veldhuijs
Senior Legal Counsel
Thomas.tenVeldhuijs@headfirst.nl