Freelancers deserve a voice - and representation - in the great labour debate

There is a long-standing debate about regulating digital notice boards and platform work in Europe. On one side of the discussion are far-left politicians and policymakers who want freelancers to enter into centuries-old working models of lifelong employment contracts. On the other side is a more progressive group that recognises the role of technology in the labour market and the more modern ways of working it creates. While it is positive that this group is finally being taken seriously with the coming of the European Platform Work Directive. Still, virtually no one is talking with the nearly 28 million people across Europe that choose to work this way. One thing is for sure; it's time to give freelancers a voice in the great labour debate.

Platform work is not bad, and freelancers are not victims

The first step is to change the way we talk about freelance work. It's gotten an unfair wrap over the years, diminishing the contribution the self-employed make to the economy and making them out to be helpless victims that enter into it by default, not a choice. Portraying them this way stifles their voices, opening the door for others to speak for them. This isn't fair or necessary. Many freelancers are entrepreneurs, students or small-business owners that choose to work this way to enjoy the flexibility and benefits it provides. It's time to balance the narrative and bring back the voice of the freelancer.

Better representation creates better policies

The second thing to remember is that for policy to be inclusive, politicians and policymakers must create opportunities for dialogue, participation and engagement. How can politicians and policymakers make informed choices about what freelancers want, need and value without asking them first?

Hans Borstlap is the author of the most important report on the labour market in recent years, which influenced the Social and Economic Council (SER) report. Third-party research indicated that the SER report, like the Borstlap reports, was created without consulting a single freelance worker. Thankfully, Borstlap recently acknowledged the pioneering role of people working through digital notice boards. He stated that freelance work needed to be sufficiently included and that he would much rather work with a universal foundation under the labour market, focusing on social security and training opportunities regardless of contract.

The time to talk is now

Finally, we need to increase the urgency to rethink policies that do not consider all workers, regardless of whether they choose permanent or freelance work. Through Temper Talks, we invite politicians, workers, and businesses to discuss and share their vision and agenda. In 2022, we convened a discussion at de Balie to discuss the role of technology in the labour market. In the audience were freelancers, business leaders, members of civil organisations and government officials. It was a thoughtful conversation that proved we had more in common than we thought. What we learned that afternoon was that freelancers come in all shapes and sizes, policies must embrace modern forms of working, focus should be on work, not contracts and most importantly, by talking with, instead of talking at each other, we have an opportunity to hear and understand the role we each have in creating a robust and diverse labour market for tomorrow.

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