The federal government has introduced new rules for freelance service contractors, as announced at the end of July. Starting in 2026, collective agreements will also be possible for them, and new termination rules will apply. The corresponding draft law was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday. The aim is to make freelance contracts and the circumvention of labor law regulations less attractive.
Until now, there has been no legal basis for including freelance contractors in collective agreements. With the planned amendment, employer representatives and trade unions will be able to conclude collective agreements for freelance workers as well.
Debate Over Freelance Workers At Delivery Services
“The repeatedly publicized cases have highlighted the urgent need for action and underscored the necessity of minimum standards in working conditions, pay, and rights,” the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs stated at the end of July. Working conditions for freelance workers came under fire in the spring when food delivery company Lieferando announced it would dismiss its employees and switch to freelance contracts by summer.
Under the new rules, freelance workers will have a four-week notice period from 2026, which increases to six weeks from the second year of service. In the first month of employment, a probationary period can be agreed upon, during which either party may terminate the contract at any time. The rules will apply to contracts concluded from January 1, 2026. Existing contracts with their own termination provisions will not be affected.
