ESPN FLASH REPORT: Social protection for the self-employed through “bread funds”

As national experts in the European Social Policy Network (ESPN), Regioplan has published a short report on the rise of ‘bread funds’. This report was published on the website of the European Commission.

The self-employed in the Netherlands are not covered by traditional social security schemes, and the majority of them are not insured for the risk of sickness. A ‘bread fund’ is a voluntary collective of 20 to 50 selfemployed who support each other financially in case of sickness for up to two years.  A bread fund functions similarly to an insurance, but is owned by its participants rather than an insurance company.