Extension of Self-employed workers’ rights planned

A new EU directive in force this week extends maternity and pension benefits to self-employed workers, their ‘assisting spouses’ and partners to improve the social protection rights of women and boost female entrepreneurship. 

EU member states must introduce legislation by 5 August 2012 to include:

• Granting a maternity allowance and leave of at least 14 weeks to a self-employed woman, assisting spouse or life partner of a self-employed worker, if they wish to take it.
• Granting assisting spouses and life partners of self-employed workers the same rights to social security coverage, such as pensions, as formally self-employed workers.

The EU estimates that around 16% of the working population are self-employed.  These workers often rely on the assistance of spouses and partners who work informally in a family business.  Such workers are currently dependent on their partner and so at risk of financial hardship in the event of separation, divorce or death of the self-employed worker.