ABSTRACT
The platform economy has led to various new forms of work. In Japan, such new forms are named “Employment-like Working Style” and are examined in line with traditional contracting and outsourcing relationships. If we understand these new forms of work as one of the new types of self-employment, in determining whether traditional labour protection regulations can be applied to these new forms of work, we can utilise accumulated discussions on contract work and subcontract. However, in some cases, it would be necessary to reconsider a fundamental question as to whether or not the parties should be given the right to choose degree of labour protection by the contract form. Currently people discuss extension of labour protection to the new forms of work. Before discussing such extension appropriate or not, it is necessary to clarify the reality of new forms of work and whether the social phenomenon named as “new forms of work” is indeed new or just an extended form of traditionally discussed self-employment.
