Government plans to scrap the tax break for the self-employed (zzp-ers) have been dropped, sources in The Hague have told website Lef Moet Lonen.

Junior finance minister Frans Weekers has removed the change from the government budget for 2014, due to be presented on September 17, sources told the website.

Instead, he will set up an investigation into the legitimacy of some self-employed whose employers are suspected of using them to save on overheads rather than taking on permanent staff, the Telegraaf said in its report.

Since news of the end of the tax break hit the headlines, thousands of zzp-ers have signed petitions set up by organisations for the self-employed.

Currently the self-employed are able to deduct €7,280 from their taxable profits. By scrapping this tax break, the government hoped to save €500m.

This article was edited on September 4, to reflect the original source of the story.