Social Agenda Issue 52 - EN

SOC I A L AG E NDA / J U LY 2 0 1 7 / 1 3 Safety net: safety nets are needed for other new forms of employment, such as Information and Communication Technology-based mobile work and crowd employment. more detailed information on working time and all workers should know to which social security institution contributions are paid. The written document may take an electronic form and Member States must provide employers with templates and accessible information. Among the other novelties contained in this proposal is the right to work for other employers, with a ban on exclusivity clauses and restrictions on incompatibility conditions. In addition, workers with variable working schedules determined by the employer (unpredictable work) should know in advance when they can be requested towork. Moreover, all workers should have the right to cost- free mandatory training, and to a limit on the length of probation. Basically, what this proposal does is create uniform and universal minimum standards for all the people that are in an employment relationship with another person, even when they are falsely hired under a self-employment contract. Closing the gaps The other proposal, on access to social protection, goes even further in as far as it also affects people who are genuinely self-employed. Fundamentally, it aims to support access to social protection to all workers and people who are self-employed in comparable conditions, bridging the gaps that non-standard workers and self- employed people presently face in terms of formal social protection coverage. They will be covered by a combination of public, occupational or private schemes as far as the following benefits are concerned: unemployment, sickness and health care, maternity, invalidity, old age and health and safety (accidents and work-related diseases). In these areas, mandatory coverage is recommended (in the case of unemployment benefits, self-employed people will be able to adhere on a voluntary basis). Transferability of social security entitlements between schemes and employment statuses and transparency of information about their social security entitlements and obligations, will be encouraged. What gaps mean in practice Maria has a full-time open-ended contract and access to sickness benefits which compensate for the loss of income in case of a longer illness. Her neighbour Jana is self- employed and is not covered for sickness benefits because there is no public/occupational or private social insurance scheme for the self-employed in her country. Both become ill and are not able to work for several weeks but their income situation develops differently: whereas Maria is protected and gets a replacement income, Jana gets nothing to support her and her family until she recovers. Daniel, a 23-year old student, worked as a self-employed biker for a food delivery company. During one of his deliveries, a car hit him. This accident caused a permanent injury. As Daniel was not covered for accidents at work, he had to rely on his savings to pay for his medical treatment and rehabilitation. As a result, he cannot use his savings to pay for his rent and further studies. © Belga Image More information: Working conditions: http://europa.eu/!dB38ph Social protection: http://europa.eu/!xX99Hw 8