Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/299690 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 2021.02
Publisher: 
European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Brussels
Abstract: 
This working paper identifies some key areas of policy intervention for advancing socially sustainable and fair solutions for freelancers working in the creative industries, who are among those have suffered the most from the economic fallout of the Covid‑19 pandemic. In particular, we focus on those who work entirely on their own account, without employees (i.e. the 'solo self-employed'), and who undertake project- or task-based work on a fixed-term basis. While demand for some services (e.g. ICT services, software development, digital communication, media, medical translation and audiobooks) has grown, due to their digital nature or essentiality in the post-Covid reality, other types of creative work have suffered due to increased competition, decreased demand, or because they were entirely put on hold due to the pandemic. National government policy measures aimed at cushioning the impact of Covid‑19 on workers' livelihoods proved necessary but insufficient to guarantee long-term protection. This is because the eligibility criteria for such support measures exclude many freelancers in the creative industries. Moreover, those who have been guaranteed access to national government support are often confronted with the complexity and length of the administrative proceedings which accompany the implementation of these measures. Finally, career development and employability are vulnerable areas for freelancers due to there being a lack of (or insufficient) national funds dedicated to these areas.
Subjects: 
freelancers
creative sector
coronavirus
Working conditions
Europe
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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