Abstract
AbstractThis article advances understanding of the prevalence and distribution of dependent self‐employment. Analysing the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey of 35,765 employees in 28 European countries, the dependent self‐employed are found to comprise 4.3% (1 in 23) of the EU workforce, 47% of all those reporting themselves as self‐employed without employees and 31% of all self‐employed. The prevalence of dependent self‐employment, however, is found to have decreased since the previous 2010 survey, is not found to be concentrated among marginalised population groups and is significantly more likely in agriculture, forestry and fishing, arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities, and the household services sector. The implications for theorising and tackling dependent self‐employment are discussed.
Highlights
IntroductionGiven that formal, full-time and permanent waged employment (i.e. the standard employment relationship) has been the principal means used for allocating rights and social protection, its potential decline raises issues for working conditions, rights and benefits
Given that formal, full-time and permanent waged employment has been the principal means used for allocating rights and social protection, its potential decline raises issues for working conditions, rights and benefits
This will put under the spotlight the dominant depiction of dependent selfemployment as an employment relationship that has rapidly grown in recent years and is undertaken by ‘marginalised’ population groups
Summary
Given that formal, full-time and permanent waged employment (i.e. the standard employment relationship) has been the principal means used for allocating rights and social protection, its potential decline raises issues for working conditions, rights and benefits. In recent years, there has been a small but burgeoning literature that has raised concerns that employers are falsely classifying employees as self-employed in order to circumvent collective agreements, labour laws (e.g. minimum wages, working time legislation, protection in case of redundancy), employment tax and other employer liabilities implied in the standard contract of employment (Eichhorst et al, 2013; Fehringer, 2014; Gialis et al, 2017; Hatfield, 2015; ILO, 2016; Thörnquist, 2013, 2014, 2015). This will put under the spotlight the dominant depiction of dependent selfemployment as an employment relationship that has rapidly grown in recent years and is undertaken by ‘marginalised’ population groups. The first known extensive multi-national analysis of the extent and distribution of dependent self-employment will be undertaken, reporting data from the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS)
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