KYF in short
The (EU) 2024/2831 Platform Work Directive introduces new rules to improve working conditions for an estimated 43 million platform workers in the EU. National implementation varies per country, and privacy legislation also continues to develop. It's easy to see all of that as just another thing that's slowing down your business operations.
The same thoroughness as in banking matters
You are probably familiar with KYC: Know Your Customer. Every bank does it, every supervisor expects it. As far as we are concerned, freelance work deserves the same thoroughness, so we built a Know-Your-Freelancer platform. Every file in Zooly starts with really knowing who you are working with: verified, documented and demonstrable within seconds, not weeks.
Factual reality over paper
Just like self-employed persons, 'freelancer' is not an official legal form. You are a freelancer if you work independently and carry out jobs or assignments on a project basis. The difference with a salaried employment relationship is not in the contract but in what happens on a daily basis: who directs the work, who determines the compensation, how does the relationship work in practice? Zooly captures that reality, so every decision you make is based on concrete evidence.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or employment advice. Labor and classification regulations (such as the Dutch Wet DBA and EU directives) are highly complex, fact-specific, and subject to frequent changes and changing administrative policies. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client or advisory relationship with Zooly. Before making any decisions regarding contractor engagement, compliance frameworks, or classification policies, you should always consult a qualified local employment lawyer or tax professional. Zooly accepts no liability for any actions taken or decisions made based on the information provided on our website.
Editorial Note & AI Disclosure
In compliance with Article 50 of the EU AI Act, we disclose that artificial intelligence (AI) tools were utilized to assist in compiling, legal screening, and drafting this content. However, to ensure absolute legal precision and contextual accuracy regarding compliance topics, the final text has undergone full human editorial review and rigorous manual verification by the Zooly compliance team before publication.
More News
View all news →An intermediary deducted 3.5% from a freelancer’s pay for arranging an assignment. The Arnhem-Leeuwarden Court of Appeal held that the fee breached Dutch law. The case shows why intermediaries and marketplace operators need to look at what the fee buys and how the assignment works in practice.
Preparing for 2027 starts with understanding how your freelance arrangements work today. This guide helps clients identify what to check, which questions need a closer look and what to resolve before approving or renewing an assignment. The budget is approved, the freelancer is available and last year’s agreement is ready to reuse. Before signing, ask one more question: does the proposed arrangement still make sense as freelance work? Start by comparing the agreement with how the work will actually be done. Have the duties changed? Who will direct the work? If an intermediary is involved, what will it be responsible for? The checks below help you spot what needs a closer look before you sign.
An FMS operator combines mediation between clients and freelancers with the administration of assignments through a Freelance Management System. In this model, the client and freelancer contract directly for the work. The operator supports their engagement without becoming the contractor responsible for delivering the assignment. A client needs an independent engineer. A business introduces a suitable professional, helps collect the documents and supports the agreement and invoicing. The engineer delivers the services directly to the client. The business remains involved throughout the assignment, but it has not employed the engineer or undertaken to deliver the engineering work itself. How should that role be described? FMS operator provides a useful name. In this article, it means a business that uses a Freelance Management System to connect clients and freelancers and administer their direct engagements. It builds on the mediation role—bemiddeling in Dutch—which Zooly has also described as the broker role. The term describes a business model. It is not a new statutory status.
“Close the gap before the climb.” Imagine hearing that in your earpiece with a teammate on your wheel. The team director has spotted a move up the road, and you have seconds to respond. The instruction tells you what the team needs in that moment. To understand the rider’s working relationship, it helps to look at what happens after the finish. The men’s WorldTour rules allow teams to engage self-employed riders where the applicable law permits it, and they set conditions for pay and insurance. So who sets the rider’s training schedule between races? Can the rider negotiate an extra commitment? Who bears the cost if an injury keeps them off the bike? Together, those details help show how much independence the rider has in practice and who carries the financial risk. UCI Road Regulations, Article 2.15.115 bis