Self-Employment and Labour Market Decentralization: Legal Frameworks and Challenges in the European Union

Abstract

This article examines the stimuli and implications of the employment decentralization trend within the European Union, highlighting the spiral in self-employment. The demarcation between traditional dependent employment and self-employment has culminated in the evolution of distinct legal frameworks and protective measures. These frameworks traverse substantive labour laws, social security provisions, health insurance, and tax structures, each meticulously designed to cater to the specific needs and attributes of workers within these separate employment categories. Given the escalating prominence of the self-employment domain, there’s an emerging imperative for a re-defined labour legislation strategy. This strategy aims to harmoniously combine freedoms and self-employment with the EU’s foundational principles, including solidarity, equitable treatment, and robust social protection.