EU Regs

[Wingding]

http://ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/e.../index_en.html

Ever had problems trying to work on a contract and not via a local EB in The Netherlands or Belgium? This interesting information seems to say that at least, authorities if not the agents are acting illegally.

In the UK being self employed rather than a Limited Co does have some advantages especially when simplifying expenses, tax and benefits. It could well be the case that UK EBs are also braking the law by their insistence of using limited companies.

Anyone up for a test case?

[oracleslave]

braking the law

breaking.

No thanks.

[MrsGoof]

breaking.

No thanks.

are you sure, he night mean slowing it down

[DiscoStu]

are you sure, he night mean slowing it down

might

[Dow Jones]

Wrong there

If you are on a crusade, you won't go very far with this. Firstly, no UK agency insists on having a Ltd Co as there is a choice between this and other umbrella options. Secondly, the situation seems to ben pretty much the same in the rest of EU (AFAIK) plus Switzerland. It's not a restriction on the freedom to move/work/etc but a tax-inducing exercise. You'll be lucky if you are left with 60% of your gross income there (as opposed to a higher % ge here - see recent poll).

[expat]

No, you are wrong there.

If you are on a crusade, you won't go very far with this. Firstly, no UK agency insists on having a Ltd Co as there is a choice between this and other umbrella options. Secondly, the situation seems to ben pretty much the same in the rest of EU (AFAIK) plus Switzerland. It's not a restriction on the freedom to move/work/etc but a tax-inducing exercise. You'll be lucky if you are left with 60% of your gross income there (as opposed to a higher % ge here - see recent poll).

Agencies are free to insist on that if they want to: you can agree or not (and get the contract or not) as you prefer.

Governments are in a different situation since they are not parties to the contracts but rather are imposing laws: Dutch laws requiring the use of a Dutch EB as employer are in breach of EU regs.

Not all EU countries do this: in Germany you can work through your own setup (a German one, not a UK Ltd Co), and in France you can simply work as "Profession Liberale" i.e. self-employed.