CELEX: 51988PC0028
Language: en
Date: 1988-02-05
Title: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) relating to the organization of a survey of labour costs in industry, wholesale and retail distribution, banking and insurance (submitted by the Commission)

ARCHIVES HISTORIQUES
DE LA COMMISSION
COLLECTION RELIEE DES
DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (88) 28
Vol. 1988/0006
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 ---pagebreak--- COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
                                                          COM(88 ) 28 final
                                                          Brussels , 5 February 1988
                           .
             /. ;• ,                     Proposal for a
            /.> v
          m           f            COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC )
 relating to.' th§ organization of a survey of labour costs in industry ,
          •          -,
            wholesale and retail distribution , banking and insurance
                        :■   ■ c'*  • •
            \c :                X-,
                                ( submitted by the Commission )
 ---pagebreak---                                            Explanatory Mémorandum
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 the Community .
That is why , since 1959, in pursuance of Council Regulations , a whole series of
specific Community surveys has been carried out in industry ( 1 ) and in commerce,
banking and insurance ( 2 ). These surveys were carried out by the Statistical Office
of the European Communities in collaboration 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 .                                               .
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 , 1981 and 1984 have been selected so far as survey reference years .
(1 )   Regulation     N° 10    ( 0J  N° 56 ,    31 . 8 . 1960 ,    p. 1199 / 60 )
       Regulation     N° 14    ( 0J  N° 55 ,    16.8 . 1961 ,      p. 1054 / 61 )
       Regulation     N° 28    ( 0J  N° 41 ,    281.5 . 1962 ,     p. 1277 / 62 )
       Regulation     N° 151   ( 0J  N° 133 ,   131.12!. 1962 ,    p. 2841 / 62 )
       Regulation     N° 101 / 66 / EEC ( 0J   N° . 134    22.7 .. 1966 , p. 2540 / 66 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 1899 / 68   ( 0J   N°   L 289 , 29.11.1968 , p. 4 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 2259 / 71   ( 0J   N° L   238 , 23.10.1971 , p. 1 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 328 / 75    ( 0J   N° L    37 , 12.2.1975 , p. 1 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 494 / 78    ( 0J   N° L    68 , 10.3.1978 ), p. 1 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 1596 / 81 ( 0J     N° L   159 , 17.6.1981 , p. 1 )
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N° 3149 / 83 ( 0J     N° L   309 , 10.11.1983, p. 2 )
 (2)   Regulation     ( EEC ) N°  2053 / 69  ( 0J   N° L 263 ,     21.10.1969 ,   p. 8)
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N°  3192 / 73  ( 0J   N° L 326 ,     27.11.1973 ,   p. 1)
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N°    494 / 78 ( 0J   N° L 68 ,      10.3.1978 ,    p. 1)
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N°  1596 / 81  ( OJ   N° L 159 ,     17.6.1981 ,    p. 1)
       Regulation     ( EEC ) N°  3149 / 83  ( 0J   N° L 309 ,     10.11.1983 ,   p. 2)
 ( 3 ) Series " Social Statistics " N° 3 / 1961 , 3 / 1962 , 1 / 1963, 2 / 1964, 5 / 1964, 6 / 1965,
       5 / 1966, 4 / 1969, 1 / 1970, 6/ 1970, 3/ 1971 , 4/ 1972, 4/ 1974, 6 / 1975, 1977
       Labour Costs 1978 , 1981 , 1984
 ---pagebreak---                                          - 2 -
During the discussion by the Council of the Regulation concerning the 1984 survey ,
it was decided that the survey should be conducted every four years instead of
every three , meaning that the next survey would need to be carried out in 1988 as
reference year . The Working Party has showed his agreement to this proposal .            ,
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 on the other in a single survey .
So that the survey should not constitute too heavy a burden on the undertakings and
on 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 Working Party on " Wages Statistics ", which met in Luxembourg on 10 June 1987,
reached agreement on the technical basis for the survey ( the 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 .
As in the surveys of 1972 , 1975 , 1978, 1981 and 1984, this survey will cover the
establishements 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
on 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 .
                                                 «
Both governement experts and the representatives of professional organizations 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 1988 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 of Economic Activities in the European Communities
      ( NACE )
                                                                                        3
 ---pagebreak---                                   COUNCIL REGULATION ( EEC)
               relating to the organization of a survey of labour costs in industry, wholesale and
                                    retail distribution , banking and insurance
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN
                                                              undertake in 1925, on the basis of accounting data for
COMMUNITIES.                                                  the year 1958 a survey of labour costs (manual and
                                                              non-manual workers) in industry, wholesale and retail
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European         distribution, banking and insurance.
Economic Community, and in particular Article 213
thereof,
                                                                                       Article 2
Having regard to the draft Regulation submitted by
the Commission ,
                                                              The survey shall cover undertakings or establishments
Whereas, in order to carry out the tasks assigned to it       employing at least 10 persons who carry on activities
                                                              defined in Divisions 1 , 2, 3, 4 and 5 and Classes 61 ,
by the Treaty, in particular those set out in Articles 2,
                                                              64/65, 81 and 82 of the Nomenclature of Economic
3 , 117, 118 , 120 and .122 thereof, the Commission
must be kept informed of the position and trends in           Activities in the European Communities (NACE), with
the Member States as regards labour costs and                 the excpticn of groups 651 , 652 and 811 .
employees’ incomes ;                                          The survey shall be carried out by sampling.
Whereas     statistical information   available  in  each
Member State does not provide a valid basis for                                         Article J
comparisons, in particular because of the differences
existing between the laws, regulations and administra¬         Employers shall, in respect of their undertakings or
 tive practices of the Member States, and whereas              establishments which are included in the sample,
surveys must therefore be carried out and the results          provide the information needed to determine labour
 processed on the basis of uniform definitions and             costs (manual and non-manual workers) on the basis of
 methods ;                                                     the accounting data for the calendar year YXB *n *he
                                                               manner set out hereinafter.
 Whereas the best method of assessing the level,
 composition and trends both of labour costs and of
 employees' incomes is to carry out specific Commu¬                                     Article 4
 nity surveys, as was last done in 1?85 . pursuant to
 Regulation (EEC) No 2149/83            on the basis of        The survey shall cover :
 accounting data relating to
                                                               (a) costs of wages and salaries, including bonuses and
 Whereas, since expenditure by undertakings on wages,               allowances, and all incidental expenditure, in parti¬
 salaries and related employers’ contributions is subject           cular employers’ contributions to social security
 to substantial change in both level and structure, it is           and supplementary schemes, and other social
 appropriate to carry out a new survey based on                     payments, including the cost of vocational training
 accounting data for 1938*" industry and in distribu¬               of employees, and any taxes and subsidies directly
  tion, banking and insurance in order to bring up to                related to labour costs ;
 date the results of the previous survey ;                      (b) the number, of employees engaged in the under¬
 Whereas, in view of the scope of the survey and in                  takings or establishments ;
  order to lighten the burden on undertakings and on            (c) the length of time worked.
  the budgets of the European Communities and of the
  Member States it is necessary to proceed on the basis                                 Article 5
  of sampling,
                                                                The information shall be collected by the statistical
                                                                offices of the Member States by means of question¬
  HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION :                                  naires drawn up by the Commission in cooperation
                                                                with those offices.
                          Article 1
                                                                The Commission shall, in cooperation with those
  Within the framework of its periodic surveys on labour        offices, determine the technical procedures for the
  costs and employees’ incomes, the Commission shall             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.
   (1 ) OJ N0 359, 10.11.1983, p. 2.
 ---pagebreak---  Persons required to supply information shall reply to     The use of such information for ether purposes, parti¬
the questionnaires truthfully, completely and within        cularly for taxation purposes, or its communication to
the time limits set .                                       third parties shall be prohibited.
                                                            Member States shall take appropriate measures against
                        Artide 6
                                                           any infringement of :
The statistical offices of the Member States shall         (a) the obligation to supply the information referred to
analyze the replies to the questionnaires. They shall           in Article 3 ; and
forward to the Commission the results of the survey,       (b) the obligation, under the first paragraph, to main¬
excluding individual items of information , in accord¬          tain confidentiality as regards the information
ance with the processing programme laid down by the             obtained.
Commission ; the results shall be broken down by
sectors of activity and, if so required, by region and                              Artide 8
size category of the undertakings or establishments.
                                                            For the conduct of the survey, Member States shall
                       Artide 7                             receive a flat-rate sum
                                                           This sum shall be entered against appropriations
Individual items of information supplied for purposes       provided for this purpose in the budget of the
of the survey shall be used for statistical purposes only.  European Communities.
             This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member
             States .
              Done at Brussels,
                                                                         For the Council
                                                                          The President
 ---pagebreak---       FINANCIAL                STATEMENT                     concerning ;
      Execution of a Survey on Labour Costs in Member States
  1 . Budget heading :                • t®· :           Title :  Statistical Surveys and analysis , processing and
                                                                 dissemination of statistical data
       Chap . 35 A             Art . 351 A
  2 . Legal basis :
                         Art . 2, 3, 117, 118, 120 and 122 of the Treaty
  3 . Classification :                  Coapu);ceryowpMdi:tar«/ hon-coupulsory expand ) tur«
                                 ,· .
  K. Purpose/description of the Mature : Financial contribution to the execution of the Labour Costs Survey
                                                   1988 in Member States and the processing and evaluation of the
                                                   survey results
  5.    Method of calculation
  5.1   Fora of expenditure :      Contribution to the national expenditures on the Labour Costs Survey 1988
  5.2 Coaauntty contribution : Between 10% and 30% of costs of Member States
  5.3 Calculation :      The contribution is divided into a global contribution to the survey launching
                         costs ( programme preparation, printing of questiomai res a.s.o .) and a contribution
                         to the costs of collecting the data with a fixed amount by establishment surveyed .
                         An additional amount is foreseen for Spain which participates for the first time
                         in this survey .
  6.     Financial iapllcatlon        ( Non-differentiated appropriation )
  5.1    Schedule of oaaaiiiaKi appropriations and xjx *)•»«■& appr^xrrVsrMxHn,
                     Year
                     19 89                          9^77  οο,-
                                                    982 700,-
                     19 90                          982 700,-
                     19
                     19
                     19
                     folloulng years                  _
                     Total                        1 96? A 00,-
   6.2 Financing during current year :
                                                   none .
   7 . Observations : It has been prcp/nsed to increase Community participat ion by +_ 15% since the amount
                       has not been changed for the past ten years . Since 1978 an amount of ECU 12 per
                       establishment surveyed had been fixed , Now a global participation of ECU 55 000
                        tc cover the basic cost of survey is proposed ( excepted Luxembourg ECU 20 OX ) plus
                       a fixed .amount ot ECU 9,- per establishment surveyed . For further mere detailed
                        inTormaf'on see annex .
I
1
 ---pagebreak---                                                          PrqposaL on the financing of the Labour Casts Survey 1988
                                                                          Budget years 1989 and 1990
                                                                                                                                             - :-
     rn
                                   Global   Ifaciu ruber of   Fixed axant              Total        For caqparisan linr Casts Sirvey
     CJ                       participation estiblishøts      = ECU 9,-            participation                   1984
     CL
                                                SLTveyed                                               Expenditure      Eiperdituv    1969          IVO
                                     1      _2_                     3                    4              placed             rtf          7            fi
        Deutschland            55 000           25 000           225 om               280 an            324 am            288 756    140 an     140 om
        France                 55 000           22 000           198 om               253 cm            264 an            181 920    126 500    136 50)
        Italia                 55 000           25 OOO           225 an               280 000           300 am            300 am     140 an      !40 KO
        Necferland             55 000            8 om             72 om               127 an              96 an            88 272     63 5m       63 500
        8elgicpe/8elgie         55 au            6000              54 am              109 000             79 2m            70 680     54 sm       54 500
        Luxentoourg            20 000              900              8 100              28 100              10 560          10 560     14 (BO      14 CM
  in
  CJ    liiited Kingdom        55 am            15 600           14)400               195 400            187 2m            96 328     97 700      97 700
  m
  T- <
  G>
  O'l   1 retard               55 000            3 500            31 500
  ^T
                                                                                       86 5m              60 am            32 616     43 250      43 30
   I
  rvj
 in     Damark                 55 000            5 UB
 ro
                                                                  45 900              wo 9m               54 an            49 428     50 450      50 450
       Hellas                  55 000            3 300
 ► t                                                              31 500               86 sm              36 an            36 an      43 250      43 250
 h-’ Espana (carpLenerr-       55 000
 a                                              25 000           225 000             310 am                  -               -
                                                                                                                                     155 an     155 an
 f-
 10
                 tary auxnt )  30 000
 l±.
 u
 o
OQ     Portugal                55 00D            6 000            54 om
 X
                                                                                     109 an               75 an            75 an      54 500      54 500
 .)
- J.
m                             655 (BO          145 600         1 310 400           1 965 4m                                          982 700    962 700
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