Self-Employment and Social Security
The opportunity of protection against social risks through work and income is an integral part of “labour standards for improved well-being”. The self-employed, especially persons working alone or with only a few employees, are a distinct group within the field of social risks. Still, “small self-employed businesses” are highly diverse and in constant change. We are aware, that scope and diversity of self-employment are increasing and boundaries to the “normal employment”, on the one hand, and non-professional employment, on the other hand, are becoming blurred. Traditional forms like contracts for work and labour and relations with subcontractors will be favoured by technological developments in the context of “work 4.0”.
German and European social law is examined for a role model (or models) of self-employment. Back reforms can provide information about whether and how the need for social security for the self-employed is identified and considered. Regarding structure of social security in its recent form, for example regarding newly developing forms of internet-based employment (share economy, crowd work), it is necessary to identify risks that can be proved and such that still have to be proved.
- Duration: 08.2017 - 12.2020
- Project lead: Prof. Dr. Margarete Schuler-Harms, Dr. Ortrud Leßmann
- Sponsor: Landesforschungsförderung Hamburg