DRAFT COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC ) ON THE ORGANIZATION OF A LABOUR FORCE SAMPLE SURVEY IN THE SPRING OF 1990 AND 1991
Date: 1989-04-19
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU Member State, professional experience, sample survey, sampling, socioprofessional category, working population

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 

1.  For the  p-- --s,  of Community action  programmes, the  série 

-,:)our 

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?"*"" 

'* 
'sties of the last job and twr *"-" 

ir.^l_.:! „  V..-  _!.„.... 
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 
under 

Item  : 

Title  : activities 

: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 
force  sample  survey  in  the  Member  States  in  the  spring  of 
labour 
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 
Data-processing  equipment 
Staff 
Data-processing  assistance 
Studies  and  analyses 
Seminar  on  labour  force 
Preparation  of a new  series of surveys 727 000 

4 098 000 
200 000 
190 000 
150 000 
150 000 
- 

4 098 000 
50 000 
200 000 
160 000 
100 000 
120 000 
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 
1990 
1991 
1992(1) 

Total 

CA 
5.515 
5.950 

PA 
3.860 
5.820 
1.785 

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) 

19.4.1989 

Office for  Official  Publications of the  European Communities 
L - 2985  Luxembourg 

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 

£*• 
l> 

|i i 

COM(89)  150  final 

ISSN 0254-1475 

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 

€ 

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

19.4.1989