Minister looks into collective pension scheme for freelancers

Junior social affairs minister Jette Klijnsma is looking into setting up a collective pension scheme for freelancers, she told parliament in a briefing.

While the Dutch pension system is supposed to ensure people have around 70% of their average salary as a pension – made up of state pension AOW and company pensions – the vast majority of freelancers fail to achieve this, Klijnsma said. Almost 25% are saving for a pension that will not add up to even half their average income.

Klijnsma has asked experts to look into the idea of setting up a voluntary collective freelance pension to see if that would be cheaper than private pension schemes. Their report is expected by the summer

She is also looking at changing rules for welfare benefits. In order to qualify, freelancers must first spend most of their assets, including their pension savings.

Research has shown that freelancers and the self-employed do not consider a good pension a priority.

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