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The article discusses false self-employment as a tactic used in some German workplaces for employers to avoid certain social insurance premiums by using purportedly self-employed workers. Using the example of a franchise owner, the author views the issue from the employer and employee viewpoints in terms of social costs and savings. It is said that the law needs clarification in defining the truly self-employed.

The article discusses the labor problem known as "Scheinselbststaendigkeit" or "disguised self-employment." In such a situation, a seemingly independent contractor, in actuality operating under the same conditions as a normal, dependent employee, avoids paying social security and related social protection contributions, as does the employer. Problems arise in the conflict of German labor rights and social rights.

A speech by Dr. Friedrich E. Schnapp is presented which was given at an Institute for Social Justice convention at Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, in December 1995. The topics of the meeting touched on franchising, disguised self-employment, and social dumping. A summary of speakers and titles of their talks is provided.

The article discusses the use of the "Betriebsbuße," a worker protection measure dating to 1891 by which a legally-based warning for moral infringements or lapses is imposed on a company. Financial redress but no criminal penalties may be imposed. An example cited is a plant manager using workers for private labor purposes. Some critics object that the practice amounts to private justice.

The article discusses a Deutsche Gemeinschaftsbund (DGB) conference at which the majority of attendees endorsed a statement criticizing employers for using social policy issues to divide the union membership. The statement cited social initiatives from kindergarten to company sports clubs to death benefit funds as leverage issues used to create discord.