COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
C0MC89) 150 final 
Brussels, 19April 1989 
Draft 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the organization of a labour force sample survey in 
the Spring of 1990 and 1991 
(presented by the Commission) 
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
-,:)our 1. For the p-- --s, of Community action programmes, the série 
force sample surveys is currently the most important source of statistics 
on the structure and development of employment and unemployment compiled 
by uniform methods and based on common definitions. The results of these 
surveys, which highlight the various problems of employment and 
unemployment, make a considerable contribution to statistical 
documentation requirements for social, economic, regional, industrial and 
agricultural policies, as well as for education, competition and 
environmental policy. The survey is thus of paramount importance as a 
source of basic data for the functioning of the Structural Funds. 
2. As the harmonization of national statistics is limited by national laws 
and practices, the Community, labour force surveys have been able to 
provide a more reliable basis for comparative analysis at Community, 
Member State and, in some cases, regional levels. The results of these 
surveys can also be used to establish consistent estimates and thus make 
it possible to use Don-harmomred national statistics fer Community 
purposes. 
3. The survey results basically alfow analysis of: 
a) the structure of the population with regard to activity, such as 
persons in employment, persons with work experience, persons undergoing 
training; 
b) the structure of employment according to its occupational and 
demographic characteristics; 
c) the structure of unemployment according to its demographic 
characteristics, work experience and characteristics of job hunting. 
The survey is also the sole instrument available for analysing the 
situation of households in relation to employment. 
4. An analysis which aims to examine the employment situation and the labour 
market over a certain period of time must be based on identical surveys 
over a number of years if it is to be reliable. Since 1983 the content of 
the survey has remained unchanged. 
c). In •: Jvi'd :rup +-'-i t.he Statistical Programme of the European Communities 
(Ooc. C0U(i>G) 6 . final of 5.12.1988), this format will be maintained 
until 199.*.. major revision of the survey is currently being prepared for 
1992. 
6. Appropriations for the Community contribution towards expenditure incurred 
by the Member States and for management and development work carried out 
by the Commission are estimated at: 
-- 5 515 000 ECU in 1990 
- 5 950 000 ECU in 1991. 
The Member States will receive a lump-sum contribution to the fixed costs 
and a flat-rate contribution for each household taking part in the survey 
on the basis of the total number of households laid down in Article 3 of 
the Council Regulation. The lump-sum contribution amounts to 100 000 ECU 
for all Member States except Luxembourg, which will receive a sum of 
75 000 ECU. The flat-rate contribution per household participating in the 
survey amounts to 3.70 ECU. 
Total appropriations needed for these surveys will be entered under 
Article B 760, "Statistical Programme relating to the Single Act" of the 
general budget of the European Communities for 1990 and 1991. 
VFjfc* 
DRAFT 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) Nr 
of 
on the organization of a labour force survey in the Spring of 
1990 and 1991 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic 
Community, and in particular Article 213 thereof, 
Having regard to the draft Regulation submitted by the 
Commission, 
Whereas in order to carry out the tasks which are assigned to it 
by the Treaty, and in particular by Articles 2, 92, 117, 118, 
122 and 123 thereof, the Commission must be acquainted with the 
situation and developments in employment and unemployment ; 
Whereas the statistical information available in each of the 
Member States does not provide a suitable basis for comparison, 
particulary because of the differences between the laws, rules 
and administrative practices of the Member States on which those 
statistics are based j 
Whereas the best method of ascertaining the level and the 
structure of employment and unemployment consists in carrying 
out a harmonized and synchronized Community labour force sample 
survey, as been done regularly in the past ; 
Whereas in a period of continuing and increasing difficulties on 
the labour market and of structural changes in the employment 
sector, annually up-dated information must be made available} 
Whereas the information needs arising from the single market 
will require further development of the surveys ; 
Whereas the quality and reliability of survey results at 
regional level need to be improved in view of their application 
to the objectives of the structural funds,* 
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION : 
Article 1 
In the spring of 1990 and 1991 the Statistical Office of the 
European Communities shall conduct a labour force sample survey 
for the Commission based on a sample of households in each of 
the Member States. 
Article 2 
The survey sha . be carried out in each of the Member States 
in a sarnpl uA households having their residence in the 
territory of those States at the time of the survey. The 
Member States shall take measures to prevent double counting 
of persons with more than one residence. 
The information shall be collected for each member of the 
households included in the sample. In cases where one member 
of a household provides information for other members, this 
shall be clearly indicated. 
Article 3 
The sample shall comprise between 60 000 and 100 000 
households in Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom and 
Spain, between 30 000 and 50 000 in Belgium, thé'Netherlands, 
Ireland, Greece and Portugal, beween 15 000 and 30 000 in 
Denmark and approximately 10 000 in Luxembourg. 
Article 4 
The survey shall cover : 
a) the individual characteristics of all members of the 
household questioned, namely : sex, age, marital status, 
nationality, type of household in which the person is 
living and surveyed, type of family relationship within 
the household. The members of one household shall be 
identified by a joint serial number and a code designating 
the State and region in which the household is questioned; 
b) situation with regard to economic activity of these 
persons at the time of the survey and characteristics of 
their work as follows : occupation, status, economic 
activity, number of hours usually and actually worked and 
reasons for any difference between the two ; full or 
part-time work, permanent or temporary work and any paid 
second job ; 
c) attempts to find work, with, in particular the following 
information : the type and extent of the work sought, the 
conditions and reasons, methods and length of time spent 
seeking work, whether unemployment benefit or aid is being 
received, the situation directly preceding the start of 
the search for work and the availability for work or the 
reasons for not being available ; 
d) the highest level" of education or training completed : the 
type zr.rH - -~cc? c* cducationat and training courr:** *•* 
-h:;L. ,..-• :J x-?- "', to 49 have recently tsk?- r~*V 
e) ;._/!. .,..'... :* ;.-::ns of working age with?"*"" '* 
ir.^l_.:! „ V..- _!.„.... 'sties of the last job and twr *"-" 
of, :,.-.:? r:2:zr,z *or, its coming to an end ; 
f) the .! ".--:!:-.. * the members of the household one : 
befof. '.!.- r,"jj-:nt survey, including : country and rec*** 
of re^iJciice, position with regard to economic activ*4-;-
and , ! f deployed, economic activity and occupation', 
status of the job held. 
Aticle 5 
The information shall be gathered by the statistical services 
of the Member States on the basis of questions drawn up by 
the Commission in cooperation with the competent services of 
the Member States. 
The Commission shall determine, in collaboration with the 
Member States, the details of the survey, in particular the 
starting and closing dates and the deadlines for transmission 
of the results. The statistical services of the Member States 
shall ensure the representative nature of the sample 
according to practice in the Member States, which may, in 
certain cases, make the provision of replies compulsory. They 
shall also ensure that at least a quarter of the survey units 
are taken from the preceding survey and that a proportion of 
at least a quarter may form part of a subsequent survey. 
These two groups shall be identified by a code. 
Article 6 
The Member States shall endeavour to ensure that the 
information requested is furnished truthfully and in its 
entirety within the period specified. They shall ensure that 
the survey provides a reliable foundation for a comparative 
analysis at Community level as well as at the level of the 
Member States and certain regions. The statistical services 
of the Member States shall forward to the Statistical Office 
of the European Communities the results of the survey, duly 
checked, for each person questioned, without any indication 
of name or address. 
The Statistical Office of the European Communities is to be 
responsible for the processing analysis and the dissemination 
of the survey results. 
Article 7 
Items of information relating to individuals provided in the context 
of the survey may be ased for statistical purposes only. They may not 
be used for fiscal or other purposes and may not be communicated to 
third parties. 
The Member States and the Commission shall take the requisite steps to 
penalize any infringement of the obligation under the first paragraph 
to preserve the confidentiality of the information gathered. 
Article 8 
The Statistical Office of the European Communities and the Member 
States shall jointly prepare the necessary methodological and 
logistical changes to the survey in order to respond to the new 
information needs at national and regional level arising from the 
single market. 
Article 9 
For carrying out the survey, the Member States shall receive payment 
comprising a fixed sum plus a contribution based on the number of 
households having participated. 
The necessary resources for he development and management of the 
labour force surveys shall be allocated to the Commissions/These 
monies are to be paid from the funds provided for this purpose in the 
budget of the European Communities. 
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and 
direcly applicable in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
For the Council 
The President 
r::::.:!CIAL REPORT concerning the impl:.:.::.*::" *:- ?* "r-m'nity labour 
force surveys in 1990 and 1991. 
1. Budget heading : B 760 Item : Title : activities 
under 
:ectoral statistical programmes relating to the provisions of the 
single European act. 
2. Legal basis : Article 213 of the EEC Treaty 
3. Classification : non-compulsory expenditure 
4. Purpose of the measure and description of work : To conduct a 
labour force sample survey in the Member States in the spring of 
1990 et 1991 to determine the structure and level of employment 
and unemployment in Member States on a comparable and harmonized 
basis. 
5. Method of calculation : 
5.1 Type of expenditure : each Member State receives a lump-sum 
contibution of 100.000 ECU (75.000 ECU for Luxembourg) and a 
flat-rate contribution of 3.70 ECU for each household taking part 
in the survey up to the limit of the maximum number of households 
provided for in Article 3. The balance represents the cost of 
management and development work carried out by the Commission. 
5.2 Community funding : approx. 20 % 
5.3 Calculation : 
Year 1 (1990) Year 2 (1991) 
Contributions to Member States 4 098 000 4 098 000 
Data-processing equipment 200 000 50 000 
Staff 190 000 200 000 
Data-processing assistance 150 000 160 000 
Studies and analyses 150 000 100 000 
Seminar on labour force - 120 000 
Preparation of a new series of surveys 727 000 1 222 000 
Maximum total 5 515 000 5 950 000 
6. Financial consequences of the work on operating appropriations 
6.1 Commitment and payment appropriations periods (Mio ECU) (1) 
year CA PA 
1990 5.515 3.860 
1991 5.950 5.820 
1992(1) 1.785 
Total 11 465 11 465 
6.2 Finance for current year : 4.0 Mio ECU 
7. Comments : 
(1) The financial forecasts for 1992 and subsequent years will be 
confirmed along with new measures to be taken after the 1990 
and 1991 surveys. 

Commission of the European Communities 
COM(89) 150 final 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the organization of a labour force sample survey in the spring of 1990 
and 1991 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
Series: DOCUMENTS 
1989 — 8 pp. — Format: 21.0 * 29.7 cm 
EN 
ISSN 0254-1475 
ISBN 92-77-48353-9 
Catalogue number: CB-C0-89-144-EN-C £*• 
19.4.1989 l> 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
L - 2985 Luxembourg |i i 
ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(89) 150 final 
DOCUMENTS 
Proposal for a 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
on the organization of a labour force sample 
survey in the spring of 1990 and 1991 
(submitted to the Council by the Commission) 
05 
Catalogue number: CB-C0-89-144-EN-C 
ISBN 92-77-48353-9 19.4.1989 
€ 
COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES