CELEX: 51973PC1228
Language: en
Date: 1973-07-25
Title: DRAFT COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC) relating to the organisation of a survey on labour costs in commerce, banking and insurance businesses (submitted to the Council by the Commission)

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DOCUMENTS "COM"
COM (73) 1228
Vol. 1973/0230
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 ---pagebreak--- I COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
ί                                       .                  '                            ' .
                                                                COM(73)1228 final
                                                                Brussels , 25 July 1973
                                          DRAFT          ■      .
                                 COUNCIL REGULATION (EEC)
                         relating to the organisation of a survey
                          on labour costs in commerce , banking
                                and insurance businesses
                      ( submitted to the Council by the Commission)
    COîl(73 ) 1228 final
 ---pagebreak---                                                                             Annex 1
                               Explanatory Memorandum
In order to perform certain tasks arising from the Treaty which set
up the European Economic Community , in particular those dealt with in
Articles 2 , 3 , 117 , 118 , 119 , 120 and 122 thereof , the Commission
                                                                                t
requires reliable and comparable inter-country data on earnings and
the cost of labour in the various branches of economic activity .
For this reason , at statistics level , a comprehensive series of speci­
fic Community surveys has been made since 1959 , pursuant to a number
of Council Regulations .        Most of these have been concerned with indus­
try ( 1 ), although a similar investigation was made in 1967 into road
transport ( 2 ) and in 1970 ,, into retail trade , banking and insurance
( 3 ).   The findings of these surveys were published in the "Social Sta­
tistics " series issued by . the Statistical Office of the European Com­
munities ( b ) . . These supplied representative data , greatly appreciated
by the Governments as well as by economic and social circles in the
various countries .
The first survey on the cost of . labour in the retail trade , banking
and insurance , relating to 1970 , filled an important gap in the Commu­
nity system of statistical information on earnings in an area where no
comparable inter-country statistics had previously existed and where
the number of wage earners had been growing steadily over the pasb few
years .
( 1 ) Regulation   No . 10 ( J.O. No . 56 dated 31.8.1960 , p . 1199/60 )
       Regulation  No . 1U ( J.O. No . 55 dated 16.8.1961 , p . 105V61 )
       Regulation  No . 28 ( J.O. No . *f1 dated 28.5.1962 , p . 1277/62 )
       Regulation  No . 151 ( J.O. No . 133 dated 13.12.1962 , p . 28^1 /62 )
       Regulation  No . 101 /66/EEC ( J.O. No . 13^ dated 22 . 7.1966 , p . 25W66 )
       Regulation  ( EEC ) No . 1899/68 ( J.O. No . L 289 dated 29 . 1 1 . 1968 , ' p . 4 )
       Regulation ( EEC)^No . 2259/^71 ( J.O. No . L 238 dated 23.10.1971 , p . 1 )
( 2 ) Regulation No . 100/66/EEC ( J.'Oi Ncu-T^ dated - 22.7.1966 , p . 2538/66 )
( 3 ) Regulation ( EEC ) No . 2053/69 ( J.O. No . L 263 dated 21.10.1969 , p . 8 )
(*f ) Nos . 3/1961 , 3/1962 , 1 /1 963 , 2/196^, 5/1964 , 6/1965 , 5/1966 , V1969 ,
       1/1970 , 6/1970 , 3/1971 and 4/1972                   1
 ---pagebreak---                                    - 2 -
However , as the reference year gets further away , the results of such
an investigation obviously lose some of their interest , especially in
view of the major changes which have taken place since then in wage
costs . - That is why it was necessary to repeat the survey .
At its . 169th session on 19 October 1971 , the Council ( Ministers of
Social Affairs ) which had included on its agenda the Commission 's
social statistics programme , voted in favour of repeating the survey ,
stressing the fact that it should be considered as being particularly
important .
Consequently ,. tiie-^Wage survey in distributive trades and services "
Working Party ( composed of representatives of the Governments and both
sides of industry ) , at its meeting of 28/29 June 1972 in Luxembourg ,
at which - representatives of the three new Member States took part , as
well as those of the three sub-committees on "Distributive Trades ",
"Banks " and "Insurance" held on 16 , 17 and 18 January 1973 » reached
agreement on all the technical details and on the specimen question­
naire and explanatory notes for repeating the survey .
Under the terms of this agreement , the survey is to relate to the" cost
of labour in 197^ and apart from banking , insurance and retail trade ,
is extended to include also the wholesale trade .     Moreover , it has
been decided to lower, the limit for retail and insurance businesses
covered by the survey to 10 employees instead of 20 as was the case in
the last survey .
In view of this enlargement in scope ,, which means a greater number of
units to be questioned , the survey will be carried out by sampling ,
wherever practicable , in order to reduce as far as possible the amount
of work for firms and national statistical services .
( 1 ) Cf. Council Documents R/ 1220/3/71 ( SOC 125 rev. 3 ) and R/2277/71
      ( S0C 209 )
 ---pagebreak---                                  - 3 -
The -Government experts and the representatives of the employers * and
employees' trade associations both hope that the decision to undertake
this survey will be taken as quickly as possible , so that the busi­
nesses concerned will be able to make the necessary arrangements to
enable them to reply to the questionnaire on the basis of their account­
ing data for 197 ^*  Not only will this assist in obtaining better results
from the survey from the qualitative point of view , but will also have
a beneficial effect on the atmosphere in which the survey is carried
out .
Hence , the Commission submits to the Council for its approval , the
following draft regulation .
As provided for in Article 6 of this draft regulation , the expenditure
incurred by Member States on this survey of the cost of labour in
distributive trades , banking and insurance , will be charged against
the European Community budget appropriations provided for this purpose .
The total cost of this survey is estimated at 4^0,000 units of account
( based on interrogation of the businesses at 11 U.A. per questionnaire ).
 ---pagebreak---                                                                            Annex 2
                    Council Regulation ( EEC )               No .
                    dated
relating to the organisation of a survey on labour co6ts in commerce ,
banking and insurance businesses .
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES ,
having regard to the Treaty establishing the European 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 assigned to it by the Treaty ,
in particular , those set out in Articles 2 , 3 t 117 » 118 , 119 , 120 and
122 thereof , the Commission needs to know the earnings situation and
trends in the nine countries of ; the Community , particularly with regard
to labour costs :
                                                              t          r
                                                                                   I
whereas , in the absence of statistical information Which will allow
reliable comparisons to be made , the best method of finding out the
level , composition and trends both of labour costs and workers 1 earn­
ings is to carry out specific Community surveys , as has been done 'since
1959 , pursuant to Council Regulations Nos / 'IO ( 1 ) ;" 14 '(2 ), 28 ( 3 ), 151
( 4 ), 101/66/EEC ( 5 ), ( EEC ) 1899/68 ( 6 ) and ;( EEC ) 2259/71 ( 7 ), based on
accounting information for the years 1959 to 1964 , 1966 , 1969 an(* 1972
for industry , No . 100/66/EEC ( 8 ), based on information relating to
1967 for road transport and ( EEC ) No . 2053/69 ( 9 ) based on accounting
information relating to 1970 for retail trades , banking and insurance ;
(1 )  J.O. No . 56 dated 31.8.1960 , p . 1199/60
( 2)  J.O. No . 55 dated 16.8.1961 , p . 105V61
( 3)  J.O. No . V! dated 28.5.1962 , p . ,1277/62
(4)   J.O. No . 133 dated 13.12.1962 , p . 2841 /62
 (5 ) J.O. No . 13^ dated 22.7.1966 , p. 25W66
(6)   J.O. No . L 289 dated 29.11.1968 , p . k
 (7)  J.O. No . L 238 dated 23.10.1971 , p . 1
(8)   J.O. No . 134 dated 22.7.1966 , p . 2538/66
(9)   J.O. No . L 263 dated 21.10i1969 , p . 8
 ---pagebreak---                                     2
whereas , by reason of the major changes which are taking place in the
expenditure incurred by business for wages and employers' contribu**
tions relating thereto , it is appropriate to carry out a new survey
based on accounting information for the year 197 ^, in order to bring
up to date the results of the .last survey which dealt with the account'
ing information relating to 1970 ,
HEREBY ENACTS :                                   ,
                                Article 1
On the basis of the accounting data relating to the year 197% the
Commission shall undertake in 1975 a survey of labour costs ( workers
and employees ) in retail and wholesale , banking and insurance busines­
ses .
                                Article 2
The survey is extended to all businesses employing 10 workers or over
with specific duties as defined by Classes 61 , 6^/65 , 81 and 82 of the
General Nomenclature of Economic Activities in the European Communi­
ties ( N.A.C.E. ), with the exception of Groups 651 , 6^2 and 811 . How­
ever , in the case of insurance businesses in Luxembourg , the survey
will take no account of the limited number of workers employed .
The statistical unit shall be the business , whatever its legal status .
The survey may be made on a sample basis .
Employers responsible for the businesses subject to investigation are
required to supply the information necessary for determining the cost
of labour ( workers and staff* employees ) , on the basis of the account­
ing data relating to the whole of 197^, as set out below .
 ---pagebreak---                                 Article 3
The survey shall be concerned with :
a ) expenditure on wages , including bonuses and ex gratia payments , . and
    all additional charges , in particular employers' expenditure by way
    of social security contributions and supplementary charges , other
    social allowances , including fringe benefits and charges relating
    to workers' vocational training ;
b ) the number of workers engaged in the businesses ;
c ) the number of hours worked by employees .
                                Article 4
The information shall be collected by the statistical services in the
Member Countries by means of questionnaires drawn up by the Commission
in collaboration with these services .
The Commission shall determine , in collaboration with the statistical
services of the Member Countries , the technical details of the survey ,
and , if necessary , the sampling programme . Moreover , it will similarly
fix the dates of commencement and termination of the survey as well as
the deadline for replying to the questionnaires .
The persons responsible for supplying the information will reply to
the questionnaires truthfully and completely , and by the dates speci­
fied .
The statistical services of the Member Countries shall process the
completed questionnaires and shall send to the Commission the overall
results of the survey , but not individual information , broken down in
accordance with the procedures decided upon jointly .
 ---pagebreak---                                   Article 5
The individual information supplied for the survey can only be used
for statistical purposes . It may not be used for taxation purposes ,
or communicated to any other persons .
The Member Countries shall take appropriate measures to avoid any
infringement :
a ) of the obligation to supply the information covered by Article 2 ,
    last paragraph ;
b ^ of the- obligation -to keep the information secret , in accordance
    with the provisions of the first paragraph of this article .
                                  Article 6
The expenditure incurred by Member Countries in carrying out this sur
vey shall be charged against the European Community budget appropria­
tions allocated for this purpose .
                     ι
All sections of this regulation are mandatory and directly applicable
in each Member Country .
This                       day of              197
                                               By Order of the Council
                                                      President