Freelancers join together for better conditions
European Freelancers’ Movement aims for 10,000 supporters for manifesto
Freelancers usually work alone, but a new campaign is uniting Europe’s independent workers to demand better conditions.
Working freelance is fast becoming the normal mode of employment. Already an estimated nine million Europeans classify as independent professionals, or almost four percent of all workers.
But while freelancing brings independence, it also has challenges. Freelancers are isolated and ignored by politicians, who create employment and business laws without considering solo workers.
The recently-launched European Freelancers' Movement wants 10,000 independent workers to sign a five-point manifesto that calls for better recognition, access to services, and fairer treatment by governments and businesses.
The campaign, found at www.freelancers-europe.org, has been set up by a coalition of organizations, networks and individuals striving to change the political landscape in favour of freelancers.
The campaign’s manifesto will be presented to the newly-elected European Parliament in September, along with the 10,000 supporting signatures.
The manifesto asks EU authorities to recognise freelancers as a legitimate employment and business category.
Once recognised, the manifesto demands freelancers be given access to government services and funding, from which they are often excluded.
Better statistics are a key demand, as official data about freelancers are unreliable. Freelancers’ organizations are requesting to be consulted by governments when drafting policy.
And finally, businesses are targeted with a demand to treat freelancers fairly, with better contracts and condition.
“Freelancers are large and important part of the European workforce, but we are ignored by politicians and isolated from each other,” said Joel Dullroy, Campaign Manager of the European Freelancers Movement.
"These simple requests are the most basic first steps politicians can take to improving conditions for independent workers," Mr. Dullroy said.
Freelancers can find out more by visiting the European Freelancers' Movement website, www.freelancers-europe.org.