What is fair pay for our free­lancers?

Last updated on 24.07.2025

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• What does fair pay mean?
• Do your freelancers come under the pay scale for the performing arts or the socio-cultural sector?
• Fair pay for freelancers in the performing arts sector (PC 304)
• Fair pay for freelancers in the socio-cultural sector (PC 329)
• Sources

Our basis is the ‘Juist is Juist’ charter of fair practices, which oKo (the industry federation for the arts) and several trade unions (ACV-CSC, ACOD and ACLVB) have negotiated as a framework of arrangements for self-employed artists and artistic technicians working in the subsidised arts sector covered by Joint Committee PC 304.
We have also applied these principles to PC 329, so that organisations with mainly educational activities in the amateur arts sector also have a guideline for paying their freelancers.

However, these are hourly amounts, which should be interpreted as applying to every hour that a freelancer works on their task. In other words, if their pay is to be genuinely fair, freelancers should be paid for any preparation time they may need at the same hourly wage. We believe that multiplying the hourly wage by 1.5 to cover this preparation time is justified.

These amounts do not include VAT. So depending on the VAT scheme that applies to your freelancer, you will need to add another 21% or 6%, or no VAT at all, to the total amount.

The amounts are intended as minimums. So you can always offer more (unless your subsidising body stipulates otherwise).

Finally, these are fair pay prices for freelancers who are self-employed (as their primary or secondary occupation) or who work through a social office for artists (SBK), meaning that they have to pay social security contributions and taxes on their income. Volunteers, Article 17 workers and users of the small fees scheme for artists work under different conditions and none (or hardly any) of their pay is deducted.

If you are interested in how the hourly amounts are calculated:

• Start with the gross wage (based on years of experience and pay scale).
• This amount is multiplied by 1.46 to cover the costs of the employer’s social security contribution, the extra percentage of social security contributions, single and double holiday pay and legal insurance (for accidents at work and civil liability).
• The resulting amount is converted into an hourly wage using the following formula:
  • Gross monthly pay x 3 → quarterly pay
  • Then divide the quarterly pay by 13 → weekly pay
  • Then divide the weekly pay by 38 → hourly pay

The complete calculation formula is as follows: gross monthly pay x 1.46 x 3 ÷ 13 ÷ 38

Pay scales and job descriptions in PC 304

Depending on their role and level of responsibility, professional artists and artistic technicians are classified into different pay scales.

The most commonly used scales in our sector are the A scale (for artists or dancers and choreographers) and the B scale (for rehearsal coaches and choreographer’s assistants, educational workers and teachers).

A-scale for PC 304

These amounts are based on pay in the performing arts sector, to be used for the artistic professions: artists, artistic participation workers, artistic directors, choreographers/ directors/ conductors, authors, composers, dramaturges, designers and programmers and for the following artistic technician professions: production managers in medium-sized and large organisations and/ or complex productions, technical managers for a team of +/- 10 technicians.

B-scale for PC 304

These amounts are based on pay in the performing arts sector, to be used for the artistic professions: assistants to a choreographer/ director/ conductor, educational workers (such as teachers) and for the following artistic technician professions: studio coordinators for a team of +/- 10 people, stage technician coordinators, production managers in small organisations, technical management for a team of max. 5 technicians.

C+ scale for PC 304

These amounts are based on pay in the performing arts sector, to be used for the following artistic technician professions: studio coordinators for a team of max. 5 people, stage technician, props manager.

C scale for PC 304

These amounts are based on pay in the performing arts sector, to be used for the following artistic technician professions: studio employee, make-up artist / hairdresser / dresser, assistant stage technician.

Amounts based on the PC 304 pay scales

Pay scales and job descriptions in PC 329

Depending on their role and level of responsibility, professional artists and artistic technicians are classified into different pay scales.

The most commonly used scales in our sector are the category 1 (for teachers 'with responsibility') and category 2 (for assistants or supporting teachers). Trainees can be paid based on the amounts in category 3.

Amounts based on category 1 of PC 329

Most dance teachers will be covered by this scale.

Job description for category 1 workers: Socio-cultural worker with responsibility for content, such as educational workers, training workers, course leaders, youth workers, pedagogical workers, socio-cultural workers.

• B1b with more than six years of experience
• B1c with less than six years of experience
   

Amounts based on category 2 of PC 329

Job description for category 2 workers: Operative and/or supporting socio-cultural worker, such as: accompanist, project worker, participation worker, activity organiser, group coach

• B2a with more than six years of experience
• B2b with less than six years of experience
   

Amounts based on category 3 of PC 329

Job description for category 3 workers: Assistant fulfilling socio-cultural sub-tasks such as an ‘assistant’, intern, etc.
 

Amounts based on the PC 329 pay scales

On 12.12.2024, Danspunt gave a webinar on 'Fair pay and the use of smart tools for freelancers: SBK (Amplo) and the Activities of SmartBe'.

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