employment/work/job as an employee (meaning a permanent employee with benefits), as a contract employee(literally, \\\"freelancer with a contract for services\\\") or as a temporary worker/agency worker.

In my experience (working in Austria for many years) a Dienstvertrag was actually a contract given to permanent employees, whereas a Werkvertrag was on a temporary or a job-to-job basis.

I think the main difference in German is that under a contract for work the provider must ensure the completed result (eg a functioning factory) with his or her own resources. Under a contract for services the provider works for the client but only has a duty to work diligently and is not liable per se for the success of the project - this lies with the client. But I am not sure whether Anglo-Saxon law really has this difference.

Yours Mike Harold

Answers 1 & 2 are right-

Incidentally, I wouldn't follow Schäfer on "Leiharbeit", which he translates as "loan employment". "Sub-contract employment" sounds better to me.

(David Bolton, working with Roy Fox)

Im bürgerlichen Gesetzbuch heißt es:

"#4 § 631. Wesen des Werkvertrags.
(1) Durch den Werkvertrag wird der Unternehmer zur Herstellung des versprochenen Werkes, der Besteller zur Entrichtung der vereinbarten Vergütung verpflichtet.
(2) Gegenstand des Werkvertrags kann sowohl die Herstellung oder Veränderung einer Sache als ein anderer durch Arbeit oder Dienstleistung herbeizuführender Erfolg sein."

Romain has Contract for Services (independent contractor)

I guess you don't like contract for services and services. These services (Werksvertrag) can include the installation and supply of equipment, while Dienstvertrag may refer maintenance, repair work writing, translating etc, so...
Manfred