Joint event: The changing environment of the self-employed

On 28 January 2020**,** Eurofound together with ACCA and SMEunited organised a joint conference on ‘The changing environment of the self-employed’. Time: 14.00-17.45 CET.

Background

As a new College of Commissioners takes shape, together with a recently elected European Parliament, this event is a timely opportunity to debate how the world of work is constantly evolving due to megatrends such as globalisation, changing lifestyles, an ageing population, new business practices and digitisation and the impact on employment.

These recent changes have led to increased labour market flexibility and greater diversity in forms of work, creating new types of work and allowing more people to become professionally active. Yet little is known about these new types of work, mainly created through online platforms. Some argue that this form of self-employment brings great opportunities and there are those that highlight the many challenges and risks. And what are the implications of these new realities for public policy in Europe?

The half-day conference brings together up to 100 policy makers, social partners, representatives from business, professional bodies and academia. It is a chance to explore the changing landscape of the self-employed through the prism of new business models and platforms. It is also an opportunity to debate the blurred boundaries between dependent employment and self-employment. A first panel session looks at taxation and employment/social aspects, including the thorny issue of social protection. The second covers company law and platform business relations, including issues linked to fair digital corporate responsibility and fairness in platform work.

Speakers include: Juan Menéndez-Valdés, Executive Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound); Dragos Pislaru, MEP ; Salla Saastamoinen, Director, DG JUST; Stijn Broecke, Head of Future of Work, OECD; Karolien Lennaerts, KU Leuven; Mathijn Wilkens, Research Officer, Working Life Unit, Eurofound; Ignacio Doreste, ETUC; Gerhard Huemer, Director, Economic Affairs and Taxation, SMEunited; Luc Hendrickx, Director of Enterprise Policy and International Affairs, SMEunited; Jason Piper, head of Business Law and Taxation, ACCA.

Videos

Mathijn Wilkens and Juan Menéndez-Valdés are interviewed in Panel 1 (0'37") and Panel 2 (0'07"), respectively, in the short videos below.