ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES 
DE LA COMMISSION 
 
 
 
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COM (83) 237 
 
 
 
Vol. 1983/0 098 
  
 
Disclaimer  
Conformém ent au règlement (CEE, Euratom) n° 354/83 du Conseil du 1er février 1983 
concernant l'ouverture au public des archives historiques de la Communauté économique 
européenne et de la Communauté européenne de l'énergie atomique (JO L 43 du 15.2.1983, 
p. 1), tel que modifié par le règlement (CE, Euratom) n° 1700/2003 du 22 septembre 2003 
(JO L 243 du 27.9.2003, p. 1), ce dossier est ouvert au public. Le cas échéant, les documents 
classifiés présents dans ce dossier ont été déclassifiés conformément à l'article 5 dudit 
règlem ent. 
In accordance with Council Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 354/83 of 1 February 1983 
concerning the openi ng to the public of the historical archives of the European Econom ic 
Community and the European Atomic Energy Communit y (OJ L 43, 15.2.1983, p. 1), as 
amended by Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 1700/2003 of 22 September 2003 (OJ L 243, 
27.9.2003, p. 1), this f ile is open to the public. Where necessary, classified documents in this 
file have been declassified in conformity with Article 5 of the aforementioned regulation.  
In Übereinstimmung mit der Verordnung (EWG, Euratom) Nr. 354/83 des Rates vom  1. 
Februar 198 3 über die Freigabe der historischen Archive der Europäischen  
Wirtschaftsgemeinschaft und der Europäischen Atomgem einschaft (ABI. L 43 vom  15.2.1983,  
S. 1), geändert durch die Verordnung (EG, Euratom) Nr. 1700/2003 vom 22. Septem ber 2003  
(ABI. L 243 vom 27 .9.2003, S. 1), ist diese Datei der Öffentlichkeit zugänglich. Soweit  
erforderlich, wurden die Verschlusssachen in dieser Datei in Übereinstimmung mit Artikel 5  
der genannten Verordnung freigegeben.  
COMMISSION  OF THE  EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 
COM(83) 237 final 
Brussels,  3 May 1983 
Draft 
COUNCIL REGULATION  (EEC) 
relating  to the  organization  of surveys  of labour costs  in industry,  wholesale 
and retail  distribution,  banking  and insurance 
(submitted  to the  Council by the  Commission) 
COM(83) 237 final 

Explanatory  Memorandum 
The Commission cannot  carry out certain  tasks assigned  to it by the 
Treaty establishing  the European Economic Community,  in particular 
with respect  to the  implementation  of Articles  2, 3, 117, 118, 120 
and 122, without access  to valid data, comparable for  the different 
countries,  on the  cost of labour and on the  incomes of employees  in 
th e C ommunity. 
That is why,  since 1959, in  pursuance  of Council Regulations,  a whole 
series of specific  Community  surveys  has been carried  out in  industry(l) 
and in commerce,  banking  and insurance  (2). These  surveys  were carried 
out by the  Statistical  Office of the  European Communities  in collabo­
ration with the National  Institutes  of Statistics  and the  Ministries 
of Labour of Member  States.  The results of these surveys  were published 
by the Statistical  Office of the  European Communities (3);  they were 
greatly appreciated  by governments  and by economic  and social bodies. 
The activities  of the  Commission  in the  various sectors  make it 
necessary that  the most recent possible figures  on total labour costs 
should be available  at all times.  In collaboration with  the competent 
authorities  in Member  States,  the Statistical  Office  has, therefore, 
developed  methods  of updating  the results of surveys of labour costs. 
However,  in view of the  fact that expenditure  on wages and related 
costs is subject to substantial  change,  this technique  of updating 
can provide  valid results  only for the first few years following 
a survey; thereafter,  the survey must be repeated. 
(1) p. 1199/60). 
p. 1054/61). 
p. 1277/62). 
p. 2841/62). 
(2) 
(3) Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Regulation 
Series No 
No 
No 
No 
No 10 
14 
28 
151 i,0J 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ No 
No 
No 
No 56, 31.8.1960, 
55, 16.8.1961, 
41, 28.5.1962, 
133, 13.12.1962, 
101/66/EEC 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) 
(EEC) No 
No 
Nc 
No 
No 
No 
No 
No 
No 1899/68 
2259/71 
323/75 
494/78 
1596/81 
2053/69 
3192/73 
494/78 
1596/81 (OJ No 
(OJ 134, 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ 
(OJ No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 
No L 22.7, 
289, 
238, 
37, 
63, 
159, 
263, 
326, 
68, 
159, 1966, p. 2540/66)  . 
29.11.1968,  p. 4). 
23.10.1971,  p. 1). 
12.2.1975,  p. 1). 
10.3.1978,  p. 1). 
17.6.1981,  p. 1). 
21.10.1969,  p. 8). 
27.11.1973,  p. 1). 
10.3.1978,  p. 1). 
17.6.1981,  p. 1). 
3/1962, 1/1963, 2/1964, "Social Statistics"  No 3/1961, 
5/1964, 6/1965, 5/1966, 4/1969, 1/1970, 6/1970, 3/1971, 
4/1972, 4/1974, 6/1975,  1977, 1979, 1982. 

- 2 -
It is in  that connection that  the Working  Party on "Wages  Statistics", 
comprising representatives  of governments  (Ministries  of Labour and 
National Institutes  of Statistics)  and of  employers  and labour, came 
to the conclusion that it  would be necessary  to repeat the surveys of 
labour costs  at three-yearly  intervals;  this view was shared by the 
Commission  and the  Council;  thus the years 1966, 1969, 1972, 1975, 
1978 and 1981  have been selected  so far as survey reference years. 
In order to rationalize  and further  facilitate  procedures,  it has been 
decided to incorporate,  from 1978 on, the  investigations into industry 
on the one  hand, and into commerce,  banking  and insurance  cn the  other 
in a single survey. 
Considering  the fact that  the organisation  of these surveys  constitutes 
a heavy work load the Working  Party "Wages  Statistics"  has expressed 
the opinion that  the legal basis for carrying  cut the 1984 and the 1937 
surveys  should be established  by one  single regulation. This  approach 
is also justified  by the  fact that  the detailed  procedures  for the 
conduct of the  survey have remained  practically  unchanged,  it facili­
tates the implementation  of the  survey in Member  countries  and has 
alsc been approved  by the  Conference  of the  Directors  General  of 
National  Statistical  Institutes. 
So that the survey should not constitute  toe heavy a burden on the 
undertakings  and cn the  budget of the  European  Communities  and Member 
States, the intention  is not  that it should involve exhaustive returns 
from all undertakings,  but that it should  be based on a representative 
sample. 
The Wcrkin,^,  Party on "Wages  Statistics",  which met in  Luxembourg  on 
10 and 11  June 1982, reached  agreement  cn the  technical basis  for 
the survey  ithe basic questionnaire,  the survey  field, methods, 
transmitting  of results,  etc.) which  will ensure the comparability 
of the results  and will allow the maximum  amount of information  on 
the Community  to be derived  from the survey. 

- 3 -
As in the surveys of 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1931,  this survey  will cover 
the establishments or undertakings employing at  least ten wage-earners. 
This will ensure  the comparability of the survey with those of previous 
years and with the other  wage statistics  of the  Community  (harmonized 
statistics  on earnings and  statistics  on the structure and  distribution 
of wages)  which cover the  same field. 
The planned survey  will provide  detailed  statistical  information on the 
expenditure cn  wages and salaries  and related  costs borne by the 
employers, as  well as on the  number  of hours worked  annually by 
employees  in all  branches  of industry  (including  energy,  water and 
construction)  and in commerce,  banking and insurance (1). The  results 
of this survey  will, of course, be  used as a new basis for the 
updating  which is carried  out regularly  during intervening years. 
Beth government  experts and the representatives of professional orga­
nizations  of employers  and workers  have urged that the decision to 
undertake  this survey be taken as  quickly  as possible, so that the 
undertakings forming part of the  samples  should be in a  position 
at the beginning of 1984 to take the necessary  measures  enabling 
them to complete  the questionnaire. 
With this in view, the  Commission  submits to the Council for its 
approval the attached  draft regulation and  financial  record. 
(1) Classes and  groups  falling  under Divisions- 1 to 5 and Classes  61, 
64/65, 81 and 82 of the  Nomenclature  cf Economic  Activities  in 
the European  Communities  (NACE). 

Draft 
COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) 
relating to the  organization  of surveys of labour costs  in industry, 
wholesale  and retail  distribution,  banking  and insurance 
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, 

- 2 -
(1) 0J No 56,  31.8.1960,  p. 1199/60. 
(2) 0J No 55,  16.8.1961,  p. 1054/61. 
(3) 0J No 41,  28.5.1962,  p. 1277/62. 
(4) 0J No 133,  13.12.1962,  p. 2841/62. 
(5) 0J No 134,  22.7.1966,  p. 2540/66. 
(6) 0J No L 289,  29.11.1968,  p. 4. 
(7) 0J No L 238,  23.10.1971,  p. 1. 
(8) 0J No L 37,  12.2.1975,  p. 1. 
(9) 0J No L 68,  10.3.1978,  p. 1. Whereas,  in order to carry out the  tasks assigned  to it by the  Treaty, 
in particular  those set out in  Articles  2, 3, 117, 118, 120 and 122 
thereof,  the Commission  must be kept informed  of the  position  and 
trends in the  Member-  States as  regards labour costs  and 
employees'  incomes; 
Whereas  statistical  information  available  in each Member  State does 
not provide  a valid basis for comparisons,  in particular  because  of 
the differences  existing  between  the laws, regulations  and administra­
tive practices  of the Member  States and surveys must therefore  be 
carried out and the  results  processed  on the  basis of uniform  defini­
tions and methods; 
Whereas the best method of assessing  the level, composition  and trends 
both of labour costs  and of  employees'  incomes  is to carry out specific 
Community  surveys,  as has  been done  since 1959, pursuant  to Council 
Regulations  No 10 (1), No 14 (2), No 28 (3), No 151 (4), 
No 101/66/EEC  (5), (EEC) No  1899/68 (6),  (EEC) No  2259/71  (7), 
(EEC) No 328/75 (8),  (EEC) No  494/78 (9) 

- 3 -
and (EEC) No  1596/31  (1) on the  basis of accounting data  for the years 
1959 to 1964,  19C.6, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1978 and 1981 in  industry,  and Regulation 
(EEC) No 2053/69 (2),  (EEC) No  3192/73 (3),  (EEC) No  494/78 and 
(EEC) No 159c oi on the  basis of accounting data  for the years 
1970, 1974, 1978 and 1931 in  distribution,  banking  and insurance  ; 
Whereas,  since expenditure  by undertakings  on wages,  salaries  and 
related costs is subject to substantial  change in both level and 
structure,  it is appropriate  to carry out new  surveys  at regular 
intervals  in order to bring up to date the results of the previous 
surveys, 
Whereas,  experience  shows that the organization  of these surveys 
constitutes  a heavy work  load; whereas  it is appropriate  to'reduce'this  Load 
by establishing  the legal basis for carrying  out the  next two surveys 
by means of a  single  Regulation; 
Whereas it  is thus appropriate  to carry out new  surveys  based on 
accounting  data for the years 1984 and 1987 in  industry  and in  distri­
bution, banking  and insurance  • 
Whereas, in  view of the  scope of the  survey and in  order to lighten  the burden 
on undertakings  and on the  budgets of the  European Communities  and of 
the Member  States it is necessary  to proceed  on the  basis of sampling, 
HAS ADOPTED  THIS REGULATION: 
(1) OJ No L 159,  17.6.1981,  p. 1. 
(2) OJ No L 263,  21.10.1969,  p. 8. 
(3) OJ No L 326,  27.11.1973,  p. 1. 

- 4 -
Article 1 
Within the  framework  of its periodic surveys on labour costs and 
employees'  incomes,  the Commission  shall undertake in  1985 and 1988, 
on the basis of accounting data for the year  1984 and 1987, surveys 
of labour costs  (manual  and non-manual  workers)  in industry, wholesale 
and retail  distribution,  banking and insurance. 
Article 2 
The survey  shall cover undertakings or establishments employing at 
least 10 persons who carry on  activities  defined in  Divisions  1, 2, 
3, 4 and 5 and Classes  61, 64/65,  81 and 82 of the  Nomenclature  of 
Economic  Activities  in the European  Communities  (NACE),  with the 
exception of  groups  651, 652  and 811. 
In banking and insurance in  Luxembourg,  however,  the survey  shall be conducted 
without regard to a  minimum  number  of employees. 
The survey  shall be carried  out by sampling. 
Article 3 
Employers  shall, in respect of  their undertakings or establishments 
which are included in the  sample,  provide the information  needed  to 
determine labour costs  (manual  and non-manual  workers)  on the basis 
of the accounting data for the  whole cf the years  1984 and 1987, in 
the manner  set out hereinafter. 
Article 4 
The survey  shall cover: 
a) costs of  wages and salaries,  including  bonuses  and allowances, 
and all  incidental  expenditure, in  particular  employers'  contri­
butions to  social  security  and supplementary  schemes,  and other 
social payments,  including  the cost of vocational  training  of 
employees,  and any taxes and subsidies  directly  related  to labour 
costs ; 
b) the number  of employees  engaged  in the undertakings or  establish­
ments ; 
c) the length of time  worked. 

- 5 -
Article 5 
The information  shall be collected  by the  statistical  offices  of the 
Member States by means of  questionnaires  drawn up by the  Commission 
in cooperation with those  offices. 
The Commission  shall, in cooperation with those  offices,  determine  the 
technical  procedures  for the conduct of the  survey. Further,  it 
shall lay down in the same.way the  starting  and closing  dates of 
the survey  and the  time limit for replying  to the  questionnaires. 
Persons  required  to supply information  shall reply to the  questionnaires 
truthfully,  completely  and within the time limits  set. 
Article 6 
The statistical  offices  of the Member  States  shall analyse  the replies 
to the questionnaires.  They shall forward  to the  Commission  the results 
of the survey, excluding  individual  items of information,  in accordance 
with the processing  programme  laid down by the  Commission;  the results 
shall be broken down by  sectors  of activity  and, if so required,  by 
region and size category  of the  undertakings  or establishments. 
Article 7 
Individual  items of information supplied for  purposes  of the  survey 
shall be used for statistical  purposes  only. It shall be prohibited  to 
use such information for other  purposes,  particularly  for taxation 
purposes,  or to communicate  it tc third parties. 
Member States  shall take appropriate  measures  against  any infringement 
of: 
a) the obligation  to supply the information  referred  to in  Article 3, 
and 
b) the obligation,  under the first paragraph,  to maintain confiden­
tiality as regards the information obtained. 

- 6 -
Article 8 
For the conduct of the 1984 and 1987 surveys,  Member  States  shall receive 
a flat-rate  sum proportional  to the number of undertakings  or establish­
ments surveyed.  This amount  shall be entered against appropriations 
provided  for this purpose  in the  budget of the  European Communities. 
Article 9 
This Regulation  shall enter  into force on 1 October  1983. 
This Regulation  shall be binding  in its entirety  and directly  applicable 
in all Member States. 
Done at Brussels, For the Council 
The President 

FINANCIAL  RECORD 
1. Budget  heading  code: art. 263 
2. Title of project : Draft Council Regulation  (EEC)  relating  to surveys 
of labour costs  in industry,  wholesale  and retail  distribution, 
banking and insurance,  to be carried out in 1985 and 1988 on the 
basis of the  accounts for  1984 and 1987. 
3. Legal  basis: Council Regulation  (EEC) 
4. Objective  and justification  of the  project : To dispose  of valid 
and comparable  data on labour costs  in the member  countries  of 
the Community.  The last survey in this field has been carried 
cut in 1982 on the  basis of the  accounts for  1981. An  annual 
updating system using estimates based  on this survey supplied 
by the Member  States has been set up;  however,  this system can 
provide  reliable  results  only for  the first few years following 
a survey year.  Thus is it now necessary  to carry out a new  survey. 
The data  are to be  collected  by the  statistical  services  of 
Member States, covering undertakings  or establishments employing 
at least 10 persons. 
5. Financial  implications  of the  project : 
5.0 in  respect of ecpenditure: 
According  to article 8 of the  draft regulation  Member  States  will 
receive a lump sum for carrying  out the  survey in respect of each 
undertaking  or establishment surveyed.  These costs  will be charged 
against the appropriations provided for  this purpose  in the  budget 
of the European  Communities  (art. 263); they cover approximately 
one-. •'rd  of the  total costs of the  survey. The amount of 
ECU 67^.000  under both the 1985 and 1986  budgets is required  for 
the financing  of the 1984  survey.  Similar  amounts  are to be made 
available  under the 1988 and 1989  budgets for  the financing  of 
the 1987 survey. 
5.1 Method  of calculation 
It is proposed  to calculate  the flat rate contribution  to Member 
States on the  basis of an amount of 12 ECU per  unit surveyed. 
Taking account  of the  number of holdings  to be covered (- 113.000), 
the cost  of the  survey for  the ten Member  States would amount to 

- 2 -
1.356.000  ECU. This amount  equals that  fixed for the  previous  1981 
labour cost survey  so that there  is a relative  decrease  in the  charge 
on the EC  budget.  In view of the  fact that the 1981  survey sample 
pattern  will be used again without  any significant  change for the 
1984 survey the data on the  financing  of the 1981  survey, given  in 
the following  table, can be  considered  as relevant  for the 1984 
survey. 
1981 Labour  cost survey:  Sample  size and EC Budget Commitments 
Country Sample Commitments  (in ECU) 
Country size (1) 
(units) Total (1) 1982 budget 1983 budget (1) 
D 27.000 324.000 162.000 162.000 
F 19.000 228.000 132.000 96.000 
I 25.000 300.000 150.000 150.000 
NL 8.000 96.000 48.000 48.000 
B 6.600 79.200 39.520 39.680 
L 700 8.400 4.200 4.200 
UK 15.000 180.000 93.600 86.400 
IRL 4.300 51.600 30.000 21.600 
DK 4.400 52.800 30.600 22.200 
GR 3.000 36.000 18.000 18.000 
EUR 10 113.000 1.356.000 707.920 648.080 
(1) Provisional  data 
The size of the  sample for each Member  State has been  determined 
bilaterally,  taking  national  particularities  into account.  Any 
attempt to reduce the size would be harmful  to the  results  of 
the survey;  this is particularly  true as regards  detailed  data 
on the structure  of labour costs  as well as the breakdown by 
size classes  of the  establishments  and by  regions.