WAZO and ZEZ: what is the difference?

Written by Ilias AarrassBookkeeper and owner of Fiscly Finance4 min read · Last reviewed on 26 August 2026

In searches and on forums, WAZO and ZEZ are constantly mixed up. They are not the same, but they belong together: WAZO is the act, ZEZ is the scheme within it for the self-employed. The difference only becomes practical when you combine freelancing with employment.

WAZO: the act

WAZO stands for the Work and Care Act. It governs all forms of leave around care duties: pregnancy and maternity leave, partner birth leave, adoption leave, parental leave and emergency leave. For employees this runs through the employer, who claims it from UWV.

ZEZ: the scheme for the self-employed

ZEZ stands for Self-employed and Pregnant and is the part of WAZO that applies to entrepreneurs. You have no employer to arrange it, so you apply to UWV yourself. Everything about that is in the article on the ZEZ benefit.

	Employee (WAZO)	Self-employed (ZEZ)
Who applies	The employer	You yourself
Amount	100% of the daily wage	At most the minimum wage
Duration	16 weeks	16 weeks

Freelancing alongside employment: both

Here the difference becomes concrete. If you are employed and also run a business, you can often receive a benefit for both parts: through your employer for the employed part and through ZEZ for your business.

The two are offset against each other, so you do not receive two full benefits side by side. Always state in your application that you are also employed. More on that combination in part-time freelancing alongside employment.

Frequently asked questions

Is WAZO the same as ZEZ?

No. WAZO is the Work and Care Act, governing all forms of care-related leave. ZEZ is the scheme within that act that applies specifically to the self-employed.

Can I receive WAZO and ZEZ at the same time?

If you combine employment with your own business, often yes, for each part separately. The benefits are offset against each other, so you do not receive two full amounts.

Is the ZEZ benefit lower than an employee's?

Usually yes. An employee receives one hundred per cent of their daily wage, with no minimum-wage cap. With ZEZ the statutory minimum wage is the ceiling, however high your profit.

This article provides general information based on the rules known for 2026 and does not replace personal tax advice. For your specific situation, we're happy to take a look with you.