[Netherlands] Enforcement of employment relationships law worries self-employed

New research has revealed that more than a third of self-employed people in the Netherlands (36 per cent) are concerned about the pending enforcement of the “Deregulation Assessment of Employment Relationships Act” by Dutch tax authorities, SIA reports.

The research was from a survey conducted by Knab; a bank offering products and services for freelancers; or “ZZP’ers” as they are known in the Netherlands.

The act is reportedly intended to curtail false self-employment. Full enforcement is set to resume on January 1, 2025, SIA research found.

Knab’s survey also showed that 13 per cent of self-employed people expect to be falsely classified as self-employed. The highest percentage was found in the government sector (28 per cent), followed by IT (21 per cent) and media and communications (21 per cent).

A quarter of self-employed people over 50 would consider early retirement if the law forced them to cease doing business, the survey said.

Of all the self-employed respondents, only 29 per cent said they would want to be an employee.

Regardless of these challenges, 49 per cent of the self-employed were reportedly positive about the future of self-employment in the Netherlands. 

However, Nadine Klokke - Knab’s CEO - said the sentiment could quickly change.

“The sentiment among the self-employed could deteriorate if the government continues to combat bogus self-employment with unclear and ever-changing regulations,” Ms Klokke said in a press release.

“A stable government policy and clear laws and regulations are crucial for the success of the self-employed,” she said. “The government must create an environment in which conscious, non-vulnerable self-employed people can flourish without unnecessary restrictions.”

Ms Klokke reportedly stated that the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment has an opportunity in this respect since the successor to this DBA Act is currently being prepared and is expected to come into effect in 2026.

The survey included 3,000 self-employed people.

Source: SIA

(Links and quotes via original reporting)

New research has revealed that more than a third of self-employed people in the Netherlands (36 per cent) are concerned about the pending enforcement of the “Deregulation Assessment of Employment Relationships Act” by Dutch tax authorities, SIA reports.

The research was from a survey conducted by Knab; a bank offering products and services for freelancers; or “ZZP’ers” as they are known in the Netherlands.

The act is reportedly intended to curtail false self-employment. Full enforcement is set to resume on January 1, 2025, SIA research found.

Knab’s survey also showed that 13 per cent of self-employed people expect to be falsely classified as self-employed. The highest percentage was found in the government sector (28 per cent), followed by IT (21 per cent) and media and communications (21 per cent).

A quarter of self-employed people over 50 would consider early retirement if the law forced them to cease doing business, the survey said.

Of all the self-employed respondents, only 29 per cent said they would want to be an employee.

Regardless of these challenges, 49 per cent of the self-employed were reportedly positive about the future of self-employment in the Netherlands. 

However, Nadine Klokke - Knab’s CEO - said the sentiment could quickly change.

“The sentiment among the self-employed could deteriorate if the government continues to combat bogus self-employment with unclear and ever-changing regulations,” Ms Klokke said in a press release.

“A stable government policy and clear laws and regulations are crucial for the success of the self-employed,” she said. “The government must create an environment in which conscious, non-vulnerable self-employed people can flourish without unnecessary restrictions.”

Ms Klokke reportedly stated that the Dutch Minister of Social Affairs and Employment has an opportunity in this respect since the successor to this DBA Act is currently being prepared and is expected to come into effect in 2026.

The survey included 3,000 self-employed people.

Source: SIA

(Links and quotes via original reporting)