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The Fight Against Undeclared Work : A New Challenge for an Enlarged Europe ?

The Fight Against Undeclared Work : A New Challenge for an Enlarged Europe ?. Cicero Foundation Seminar, 17-18 April 2008 Guido VANDERSEYPEN DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, EUROPEAN COMMISSION. Definition of Undeclared work (UDW) Why bother about UDW ?

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The Fight Against Undeclared Work : A New Challenge for an Enlarged Europe ?

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  1. The Fight Against Undeclared Work :A New Challenge for an Enlarged Europe ? Cicero Foundation Seminar, 17-18 April 2008 Guido VANDERSEYPEN DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, EUROPEAN COMMISSION

  2. Definition of Undeclared work (UDW) Why bother about UDW ? Estimates of UDW as % of GDP Socio economic facts from an EU survey (1) Socio economic facts from an EU survey (2) EU policy mix for the fight against UDW Some success stories Policy issues Follow up to COM(2007)628 References Structure of presentation

  3. « Any paid activities that are lawful as regards their nature but not declared to public authorities, taking into account differences in the regulatory system of Member States » = an activity based definition as opposed to enterprise- or job-based definition = emphasis on social security and tax fraud excludes criminal activities 1. Definition of UDW

  4. Undeclared work undermines the financing of social security may go together with tax and social security fraud represents a negation of the principles of flexicurity Constitutes a pull factor for illegal immigration may result from dysfunction of European labour law 2. Why bother about UDW ?

  5. 3. UDW incidence in EU Member States

  6. 11% of respondents acquired undeclared goods or services UDW performed by 5% of respondents (mainly as side activity) Wages paid cash-in-hand to 5% of employees in EU (up to 10% in new MS) - estimated at 2% of total wage bill 4. Socio economic facts according to Special Eurobarometer 284

  7. Main sectors : household and personal services, construction, horeca and repair The performers : high incidence among students, jobless, self-employed* Detection risk high for 1 respondent out of 3 …and 18% of public thinks no risk of a fine * NB outside scope of survey :illegal immigrants and transactions between companies 5. Socio economic facts according to Eurobarometer 284 (ctd.)

  8. A Council resolution of 29.10.2003 calls for: reducing the financial incentives for UDW in tax and benefit systems (incl. the permissiveness of the social protection systems); administrative reform and simplification, with a view to reducing the cost of compliance with regulations; strengthening the surveillance and sanction mechanisms, with the involvement of labour inspectorates, tax offices and social partners; trans-national cooperation between Member States, and awareness raising activities. 6. EU POLICY MIX

  9. Service vouchers for household services (e.g. BE, SP) Increased minimum wage as a threshold for declaration (PT, PL, SK) Flat taxes avoiding distortions between dependent work and (false) self employment (EE, SK) VAT reduction for labour intensive services (FR) Simplified registration for seasonal work etc. (FR) Laws & Action plans on UDW (DE, FR, IT ) Social Partner Agreements (DE, NL) Regularisations (IT, SP, PT) Public campaigns (LV, LT) 7. some SUCCESS Stories

  10. Taxation on low productivity jobs Extra social security contributions on overtime Taxation regime for (false) self employment Level of minimum wages Transitional arrangements limiting access to EU-15 Flexicurity Detection of tax and social security fraud Role of social partners in law enforcement Administrative cooperation incl. transnational Regularisations and amnesties 8. Policy Issues

  11. Improved quantification of UDW Focus in Lisbon Strategy reporting (UDW as a dimension in flexicurity pathways) Exchange of good practices (Employment Cttee etc.) Review of transitional arrangements Social Partners’ Work programme 2006-2008 Regulatory simplification (posted workers, social security) Setting up « platform » for info. exchange 9. Follow up of COM(07)628

  12. Communication COM(2007)628 Council resolution of 29.10.2003 (OJ C 260/1 of 29.10.2003) Study « UDW in an enlarged Union » http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/incentive_measures/activities_en.htm#2004 Eurobarometer Special Survey 284 http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb_special_en.htm European Employment Observatory http://www.eu-employment-observatory.net/index.aspx 10. REFERENCES

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