The Uber-economy f**ks us all: How “permalancers” and “sharer” gigs gut the middle class

[coyote]

3. Living in Germany, I can tell you how Germany avoids these problems...

Essentially you cannot hire a freelancer for more than 18 months at a company, otherwise the government see the company as evading social taxes (social responsibility) such unemployment insurance, health insurance, general income tax, etc. In sum, it's pretty much viewed as tax evasion.

I have seen many people get hired here as permanent employees due to claims of Scheinselbständigkeit (contractors working like regular employees). The work courts here are very favorable to workers.