COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 26.05.1997 
COM(97) 221 final 
Proposal for a 
ÇQUNÇH DECISION 
repealing Directive 82/606/EEC relating to the organization by the Member States of 
surveys on the earnings of permanent and seasonal workers employed in agriculture 
(presented by the Commission) 

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM 
1. Specific surveys on the earnings of permanent workers employed in agriculture 
have been carried out in the Member States of the Community since 1974. Up to 
and including 1980 the surveys were annual, but the scope was not always 
identical : those for 1977, 1978 and 1979 referred only to male workers and 
used a reduced sample. 
2. In Regulation (EEC) 3112/80 on the organization of the 1980 survey, the 
Council stipulated that future surveys should be organized on the basis of a 
directive establishing a permanent system. The system itself was laid down in 
Council Directive 82/606/EEC of 28 July 1982. According to that Directive the 
Member States were obliged, in 1982 and every two years thereafter, to carry 
out a survey by random sampling on the actual earnings of permanent full-time 
and/or seasonal workers of both sexes, employed on holdings engaged in 
activities specified and defined under Class 01 of NACE 70 (Agriculture and 
Hunting); this obligation did not apply to holdings whose activities consisted 
exclusively or mainly in the creation and maintenance of parks and gardens, 
hunting and activities ancillary to agriculture. 
3. Directive 82/606/EEC was amended in 1988. Under Article 8 of Directive 
88/562/EEC the Council was to review the Directive in 1990 and submit 
proposals on the system to be implemented, if necessary, for the years after 
1990. To this end the Commission submitted a report on the experience gained 
in carrying out the surveys, including a recommendation to conduct the next 
survey on earnings for the year 1991 and every three years thereafter. 
4. A new Directive was approved in 1991 (91/534/EEC). The surveys on 1991 
and 1994 have been carried out. 
5. With a view to limiting the amount of EU legislation to the minimum necessary 
and reducing the workload of the National Statistical Institutes, Eurostat has 
consulted the Member States in order to examine the extent to which such a 
survey is necessary to fulfil national and EU statistical requirements. 
6. The results of the consultation show that for most countries the survey is carried 
out to meet Community requirements, and that in countries where such 
information is necessary, other sources can meet users' needs. The Commission 
departments concerned have not expressed the need to continue the survey. 
7. In view of the above, Eurostat is of the opinion that Directive 82/606/EEC can 
be repealed. 
8. The Statistical Programme Committee, consulted by written procedure on 16 
January 1997, has given a favourable opinion on this proposal. 
9. The Commission therefore submits the attached proposal for Decision to the 
Council for approval. 
c*^ 
COUNCIL DECISION 
of 
repealing Directive 82/606/EEC relating to the organization by the Member States of 
surveys on the earnings of permanent and seasonal workers employed in agriculture 
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION 
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 
213 thereof, 
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, 
Whereas Council Directive 82/606/EEC relating to the organization by the Member States 
of surveys on the earnings of permanent and seasonal workers employed in agriculture, last 
amended by Directive 91/534/EEC , was adopted in order to make available comparable 
statistics on the development of the earnings of agricultural workers in the Member States; 
Whereas the requirement for national and Community statistics can now be met using other 
sources; 
Whereas it is in the general interest to reduce the volume of Community legislation and to 
limit the statistical burden on the Member States to those requirements which are essential; 
89/382(EEC/Euratom) , has been consulted in accordance with Article 3 of the aforesaid Whereas the Statistical Programme Committee established by Council Decision 
89/382(EI 
Decision, 
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 
Article 1 
Directive 82/606/EEC is hereby repealed. 
Article 2 
This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 
Done at Brussels, 
'OJL 247,23.8.1982, p.22 
2 OJL 288, 18.10.1991, p.36 
'OJL 181, 28.6.1989, p.47 
2> 

ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(97) 221 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 17 03 04 06 
Catalogue number : CB-C0-97-228-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-19833-1 
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