The employment relationship has undergone a major transformation in recent years, resulting in increased flexibility for both worker and employer.The growth of different forms of work - part-time and temporary work,contractual work and self employment - as well as responding to employers' changing needs, has also acted as a necessary counterbalance to unemployment in many Member States. This report looks at the challenges to social protection systems brought about by these flexible forms of work and new working time arrangements.It puts the spotlight on the problems arising from an ageing social protection system and the current pension reform. Drawing on information from six Member States representative of the various welfare systems throughout the EU, it explores possible solutions for the redeployment of social protection in the light of the current trend towards increasing flexibility.