The employment rights described on this website apply only to employees. Anybody who works for themself and is therefore self-employed can demand rights such as a minimum wage or compensation for an accident at work. In addition, a self-employed person is personally responsible for paying social security contributions and taxes and is committing a criminal offence if they work clandestinely and off the books.
There are various forms of self-employment. We briefly look at two forms of self-employment in which you work for a single company: the active partner and the self-employed assistant.
- Active Partner: as an active partner, you own a number of shares in the company. You are registered in the company’s shares register, along with the number of shares you own. This shares register is held in the company office. You work in this company in order to make the shares profitable.
- Self-employed assistant: a self-employed person who carries out a professional activity in their own name and for themselves (sole proprietor). These people can call in help from assistants. As a self-employed assistant, you have no shares in the company but work in a self-employed capacity. You have no employment contract but have a certain amount of freedom to make your own decisions.
Although in both the above-mentioned statuses you are connected to just one company, you are not an employee. As a self-employed person, you must have a certain freedom in defining your own work, Such as being able to decide when and how you do your work, for example.