The cabinet is preparing a number of measures to encourage people to set up their own companies, such as a reduction in red tape and better access in competing for government contracts, junior economic affairs minister Frank Heemskerk announced on Monday.

‘New companies give an impulse to the competition, keep existing companies sharp and stimulate innovation,’ Heemskerk said.
The cabinet is also planning to take steps to improve the tax situation for the self-employed, he said. No concrete proposals were published, but according to the Financieele Dagblad these may include more flexibility on the number of hours the self-employed have to work to get tax breaks and better pension rights.
Heemskerk pointed out that since the beginning of this year self-employed people have the right to help with childcare and that women will be able to claim maternity leave pay from next July.
The minister told the FD on Monday he was alert to the growth in self-employment. If the number of self-employed went up from 12% of the working population to 30%, it would begin to affect collective insurance schemes such as pensions, he said.