News item | 06-07-2023 | 10:00 am
Minister Helder (Long-term Care and Sport), Minister Van Gennip (Social Affairs and Employment), State Secretary Van Rij (Tax and Tax Authorities) and 6 sector organizations in the healthcare sector (ActiZ, Zorgthuisnl, VGN, the Dutch GGZ, NVZ and NFU) have today signed a cooperation statement to put an end to bogus self-employment in healthcare. The parties hereby endorse the common interest and want to take responsibility.
The number of self-employed people in the healthcare sector has been rising for years. There is a need throughout the healthcare and welfare sector for clarity about what is and what is not possible outside of regular employment. That is why sector organizations are developing a care management model to tackle bogus self-employment in the care sector. Part of this is a tax framework for ZZP Zorg to be worked out. The aim of the sector organizations is to make it clear to healthcare organizations what the rights and obligations are when hiring self-employed persons in the healthcare sector. To ensure this, the government has decided to strengthen and improve supervision and enforcement and to lift the so-called enforcement moratorium as of 2025.
This control model should prevent employees from resigning and then returning to the same role, but with the label “self-employed”. Independence must be apparent from the actual performance of the work. The cooperation between the ministries and the sector organizations aims to prevent bogus self-employment. The model will come into effect from January 1, 2024.
Minister Helder: “We need everyone in the healthcare sector, including the self-employed. But too many self-employed persons in the care sector cause discontinuity. Partly for this reason, I want to work with my colleagues to combat bogus self-employment in healthcare. It is important that we take this step with the sector organizations by developing a control model.”
Minister Van Gennip: “We want to prevent unfair competition on terms of employment, protect workers well and maintain our social safety net in solidarity. That is why we in the cabinet are working on a more level playing field for all workers, clarifying the difference between employees and self-employed persons without employees and improving enforcement of bogus self-employment. This appointment in healthcare fits in very well with that.”
State Secretary Van Rij: “Now that the end of the enforcement moratorium is in sight, we are working hard on legal measures to restore the balance between employees and the self-employed. It is good that the healthcare sector is now joining forces to work together with the Tax and Customs Administration and the departments involved.”
To collaborate
The ministries involved, the sector organizations and the Tax and Customs Administration will continue to discuss the further concretization of the Healthcare management model.
The cooperation between the Tax and Customs Administration and the sector organizations makes it possible to share anonymous practical experiences with each other. This can lead to adjustments in the Healthcare management model, including the Fiscal Framework for ZZP Healthcare, which ultimately makes it more effective.
Within its enforcement, the Tax and Customs Administration takes into account the use of the Healthcare control model, including the ZZP Healthcare Tax Framework.
First step
This approach in the care and welfare sector is the first step in tackling bogus self-employment by the government. Further steps in other sectors will follow.