'Economically dependent workers', employment law and industrial relations
May 2002 
Comparative study
The boundaries between dependent employment and self-employment have increasingly become blurred in some areas in recent years, in a context of changing labour markets and the spread of practices such as outsourcing and contracting-out. This process has led to growing interest in `economically dependent workers´ - workers who are formally self-employed but depend on a single employer for their income - and calls from trade unions and other sources for such work to be regulated and social security coverage and employment law protection to be provided. This EIRO comparative study examines the extent and characteristics of employment relationships which may involve such `economically dependent work´ across the EU and Norway, and provides an overview of the debate on the implications of these developments. The study also looks at the impact of economically dependent workers on industrial relations, and notably on trade union representation and collective bargaining.
The comparative study was compiled on the basis of individual national reports submitted by EIRO's national centres. The text of each of these national reports is available below in Word format. The reports have not been edited or approved by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions. The national reports were drawn up in response to a questionnaire and should be read in conjunction with it.