This monograph is the result of the work of scholars from various European countries who joined the research project funded by the National Science Centre and led by Tomasz Duraj, titled "In Search of a Legal Model of Self-Employment in Poland. A Comparative Legal Analysis".

The chief research objective tackled by the project participants consisted in a complex legal ana lysis of self-employment - not only from the perspective of Polish regulations and case law, but also with regard to solutions existing in international law, European Union law, and selected European countries. The area of study covered the legal systems of the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Spain, France, ltaly, Hungary, as well as Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Research design was rather innovative. To date, no large-scale research had been conducted into the legal environment as it pertains to self-employment, encompassing not only the Polish regulations and case law, but also the solutions adopted in international law, European Union law, and the laws of selected European countries. The inclusion of the regulations on self-employment in other countries, processed to fit within in the framework of a structured study, provides added value for Polish legal scholarship.

This monograph contains an analysis of self-employment under the law of the Baltic States and under Polish law. The concluding chapter presents the final results of the research carried out as part of the research project. On their basis, an attempt was made to create an optimal legal model of self-employment in Poland. The comments as to the potential future regulatory approaches are designed to help the Polish legislator draft a new law on the legal status of self-employed workers, in order to systematically and comprehensively regulate the key aspects of self-employed work, with particular emphasis on the social protection of the workers. Its implementation will contribute to resolving a number of disputes and clarifying a number of doubts that currently exist in legal scholarship and in case law.

The proposed optimal legal model of self-employment in Poland outlined in this monograph has a universal dimension, going much beyond self-employment as such. The research results suggest certain conclusions that offer a springboard for a broader discussion about the

future of labour law. They encourage reflection on the need and legitimacy of expanding the applicability of protective regulations of labour law, with a view to bringing under their umbrella various new groups of workers who provide work, independently, outside the employment relationship (in particular under conditions of dependence on the client). The scope of this protection and manner of its differentiation require further critical reflection and development.

The monograph is primarily addressed to legal academics, students, legislators, judges and representatives of other legal professions, social partners, practitioners and other circles interested in the issue of atypical forms of employment.