EU breakthrough for Freelances and Independent Professionals - Liz Lynne

4.33.36pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 2nd Jun 2010

John Niland, Liz Lynne MEP and John Brazier at the launch of the EU Independent Professionals Forum

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne was celebrating today after the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, of which she is 1st Vice President, backed her call for more attention to the needs of independent professionals and freelancers.

There are over 1.4 million freelancers in the UK alone and across the EU it has been estimated that independent professionals make up 9 - 13% of the productive workforce.

Commenting after the vote Liz Lynne said;

"I am delighted the Employment and Social Affairs Committee today endorsed my call for greater recognition and support for independent professionals, who play a vital role in our economy and our communities.

"All too often independent professionals, whether they are IT consultants, translators or freelance journalists, struggle to make their voices heard and find their needs are not taken into account by lawmakers.

"The way that EU legislation has traditionally been produced, for example, means that independent professionals and self employed people have little or no way into the policy making process; I hope today's vote is one step towards changing that.

"But there is a long way to go and we have a steep hill to climb if we are to challenge the staggering ignorance surrounding the important role played by independent workers across the European Union"

Ends

Liz Lynne MEP is first Vice President of the European Parliament's Employment and Social Affairs Committee, which is responsible for labour market regulation.

The amendment adopted today by the Committee reads:

Calls on the Commission and Member States to recognise and support the special position of independent freelance workers as a vital force in economic recovery as a "way in" or an alternative to the labour market.

Notes independent working is growing in popularity especially among young workers, women and as a transition from work to retirement.

Believes that independent freelancers should be treated as a unique subset of micro-businesses and for measures to be taken to minimise the burden of regulation and to encourage and support independent freelancers in launching / growing independent freelance businesses and to promote lifelong learning for this group.