Working conditions for self-employed workers without employees

If you work in the Netherlands as a self-employed worker without employees (zzp'er) or as a freelancer, you will have to comply with the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and working conditions regulations. Although you do not have to comply with all of the rules in the legislation, certain conditions and prohibitions relating to serious occupational hazards do apply. These conditions focus on the health and safety of both yourself and the people you work with. They govern, for instance:

• the layout of the workplace;
• the use of hazardous substances;
• the safety aspects of machines and materials;
• work at height; exposure to noise.

In a number of situations, additional regulations apply to self-employed workers, including rules governing the use of crop protection products or biocides or governing work in the construction sector.

Self-employed according to the Working Conditions Act

These rules only apply if the Labour Inspectorate considers you to be a self-employed worker. If a contract of employment or a relationship of authority exists, the Labour Inspectorate might consider you to be an employee or an employer. If this is the case, other rules will apply. The actual situation in the workplace will be decisive.