Social rights for genuinely self-employed workers have yet to become a priority at the EU level, despite the fact that a social protection policy for self-employment would complement that granted to subordinate employment – and vice versa – contributing to a more comprehensive social protection for all types of individuals who live off their personal labour. Despite the number of steps made to ensure a certain level of protection of self-employed workers, the chapter frames self-employment as worthy of the EU legislator’s attention, especially in light of the social agenda defined in the European Pillar of Social Rights, not merely to avoid that standard employment’s stringent obligations are disregarded, but above all to issue ad hoc regulatory instruments for the benefit of self-employed workers, specifically their social citizenship and dignity.
Who is self-employed? Self-employment and social protection in the EU legal system
Elena Gramano
2026
Abstract
Social rights for genuinely self-employed workers have yet to become a priority at the EU level, despite the fact that a social protection policy for self-employment would complement that granted to subordinate employment – and vice versa – contributing to a more comprehensive social protection for all types of individuals who live off their personal labour. Despite the number of steps made to ensure a certain level of protection of self-employed workers, the chapter frames self-employment as worthy of the EU legislator’s attention, especially in light of the social agenda defined in the European Pillar of Social Rights, not merely to avoid that standard employment’s stringent obligations are disregarded, but above all to issue ad hoc regulatory instruments for the benefit of self-employed workers, specifically their social citizenship and dignity.
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