Nichtselbständige

Nichtselbständige is a German term used to describe persons who work in a dependent, rather than self-employed, capacity. It can function as an adjective (nichtselbständig) or as a noun (die Nichtselbständigen). The contrast is primarily with selbständige persons, who run their own business or work as freelancers.

In labor and social security law, der Begriff identifies individuals whose income comes from an employer, with taxes and social security contributions typically withheld by the employer. Nichtselbständige workers are generally subject to employment law protections, such as minimum wage, working hours regulations, and rules on dismissal, and they usually have less autonomy in organizing their work compared with self-employed individuals.

The classification is important for entitlement to benefits and for regulatory purposes. In Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, statistics and social insurance systems distinguish between employed (nichtselbständig) and self-employed (selbständig) in order to determine insurance coverage, pension rights, and other social protections. The term is more common in formal, administrative, or statistical contexts; everyday language more frequently uses terms like Angestellte, Beschäftigte, or Arbeitnehmer.

Notes and caveats: the exact definitions and scope of what counts as nichtselbständig can vary somewhat by country and by specific legal or administrative framework. The term should not be confused with the status of civil servants, which may involve separate legal regimes. Overall, nichtselbständige describes wage or salary labor under direction and control of an employer, as opposed to autonomous, entrepreneurial, or freelance work.