Safety and the self-employed
Written by Chris Bosch 04 April 2008
Self-employment is on the rise in our country, and is the second fastest growing
employment demographic in Canada, with approximately 16 per cent of 17 million
workers freelancing for their income. The problem is that while self-employment is rising, safety
awareness for this group of Canadians is not.
Self-employment is on the rise in our country, especially
among high-injury occupations like construction, agriculture, and
transportation. In fact, self-employment is the second fastest growing
employment demographic in Canada, with approximately 16 per cent of 17 million
workers in Canada freelancing for their income.
The problem is that while self-employment is rising, safety awareness for this group of Canadians is not.
Health and safety training often happens within the traditional workplace setting. Safety committees are set up, policies are set in place and safety training is usually mandatory. But what about the large group of people—such as the self-employed—who work outside the traditional workplace where safety measures are not monitored as closely? Shouldn’t Canada be concerned for its growing self-employment population?
The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) is concerned. They’ve been studying the rise of self-employment for some time now, particularly as it relates to the construction industry. Katherine Jacobs, director of research and analysis with the OCS, states, “According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, self-employment in Ontario’s construction industry has increased from 75,000 workers in 1987 to 130,000 in 2006. Not only are we seeing an increasing number of self-employed workers in construction, but their share of total construction employment is also increasing. Almost 20 years ago, 25 per cent of the construction workforce were self-employed. Today, one-third of construction workers declare themselves to be self-employed.”
Unfortunately, the OCS’s main concern doesn’t go far enough. Their primary concern is that these construction workers may be self-employed for nefarious reasons such as income concealment and tax evasion. The OCS does acknowledge the health and safety deficit among this group when they suggest that workplace insurance premiums should apply to these workers.
While there is no doubt that public policy and industry should address the proliferation of non-legitimate businesses that seek to avoid paying into the public purse, shouldn’t we as a country be more concerned about whether this group is at greater risk because of their self-employment?
There is a global movement afoot to establish organizations for self-employed workers, which may, if effective, promote their wellbeing and promote accountability. Because these workers do not fit into the traditional “workplace box,” it has become necessary to develop institutions that recognize the unique nature of self-employment in an attempt to bring traditional workplace benefits to its doorstep. And many are succeeding.
Take for example a number of the European trade unions that have started associations for the self-employed. FNV Bondgenoten of the Netherlands is targeting 15,000 micro-businesses and hopes to have 130,000 workers within 10 years. A Norwegian finance service union has established Rom, a separate non-profit organization that offers legal advice, training, discounts on services, as well as mentors who provide one-on-one career advice.
In the U.S., Sarah Horowitz started the Freelancers Union when she discovered that many self-employed people in New York did not have access to affordable health care. Her organization now boasts a membership of more than 15,000.
Canada is beginning to do its part as well. Recently, the Christian Labour Association of Canada, an independent labour union, launched the Guild Network, an association that allows self-employed workers to leverage the services of a union, without actually becoming part of one.
The Guild Network is the first of its kind in Canada and offers discounted health benefits, employment advice, a job board, online discussion forum, training, and discounts on services such as tax preparation and car rentals. It’s motivated by the value of work community — a community of like-minded people who cherish their independence but who seek the benefits of togetherness. The hope is that through the building of community, self-employed people will begin to communicate about the necessity of standards within their occupational group. The standards may be as simple as health benefit plans, or it could be standards regarding professionalism, accreditation, and the safety of its group of workers.
When close to one in six workers is off the health and safety radar of government and industry, this is cause for concern. As with any issue, a concerted approach by all interested parties is required to address it meaningfully— government, industry, workers, and unions have a role to play.
In Canada, the Guild Network is doing its part to encourage freelancers in all sectors to come together and reap the benefits of their large numbers in the hope that it can help address issues that affect this group, including their health and safety.
Chris Bosch is a field researcher with the Christian Labour Association of Canada, an independent, multi-sector trade union.
Last modified on Thursday, 10 April 2008 10:00
The problem is that while self-employment is rising, safety awareness for this group of Canadians is not.
Health and safety training often happens within the traditional workplace setting. Safety committees are set up, policies are set in place and safety training is usually mandatory. But what about the large group of people—such as the self-employed—who work outside the traditional workplace where safety measures are not monitored as closely? Shouldn’t Canada be concerned for its growing self-employment population?
The Ontario Construction Secretariat (OCS) is concerned. They’ve been studying the rise of self-employment for some time now, particularly as it relates to the construction industry. Katherine Jacobs, director of research and analysis with the OCS, states, “According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey, self-employment in Ontario’s construction industry has increased from 75,000 workers in 1987 to 130,000 in 2006. Not only are we seeing an increasing number of self-employed workers in construction, but their share of total construction employment is also increasing. Almost 20 years ago, 25 per cent of the construction workforce were self-employed. Today, one-third of construction workers declare themselves to be self-employed.”
Unfortunately, the OCS’s main concern doesn’t go far enough. Their primary concern is that these construction workers may be self-employed for nefarious reasons such as income concealment and tax evasion. The OCS does acknowledge the health and safety deficit among this group when they suggest that workplace insurance premiums should apply to these workers.
While there is no doubt that public policy and industry should address the proliferation of non-legitimate businesses that seek to avoid paying into the public purse, shouldn’t we as a country be more concerned about whether this group is at greater risk because of their self-employment?
There is a global movement afoot to establish organizations for self-employed workers, which may, if effective, promote their wellbeing and promote accountability. Because these workers do not fit into the traditional “workplace box,” it has become necessary to develop institutions that recognize the unique nature of self-employment in an attempt to bring traditional workplace benefits to its doorstep. And many are succeeding.
Take for example a number of the European trade unions that have started associations for the self-employed. FNV Bondgenoten of the Netherlands is targeting 15,000 micro-businesses and hopes to have 130,000 workers within 10 years. A Norwegian finance service union has established Rom, a separate non-profit organization that offers legal advice, training, discounts on services, as well as mentors who provide one-on-one career advice.
In the U.S., Sarah Horowitz started the Freelancers Union when she discovered that many self-employed people in New York did not have access to affordable health care. Her organization now boasts a membership of more than 15,000.
Canada is beginning to do its part as well. Recently, the Christian Labour Association of Canada, an independent labour union, launched the Guild Network, an association that allows self-employed workers to leverage the services of a union, without actually becoming part of one.
The Guild Network is the first of its kind in Canada and offers discounted health benefits, employment advice, a job board, online discussion forum, training, and discounts on services such as tax preparation and car rentals. It’s motivated by the value of work community — a community of like-minded people who cherish their independence but who seek the benefits of togetherness. The hope is that through the building of community, self-employed people will begin to communicate about the necessity of standards within their occupational group. The standards may be as simple as health benefit plans, or it could be standards regarding professionalism, accreditation, and the safety of its group of workers.
When close to one in six workers is off the health and safety radar of government and industry, this is cause for concern. As with any issue, a concerted approach by all interested parties is required to address it meaningfully— government, industry, workers, and unions have a role to play.
In Canada, the Guild Network is doing its part to encourage freelancers in all sectors to come together and reap the benefits of their large numbers in the hope that it can help address issues that affect this group, including their health and safety.
Chris Bosch is a field researcher with the Christian Labour Association of Canada, an independent, multi-sector trade union.
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