Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-09-06-Speech-3-396"
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"en.20000906.17.3-396"2
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". – I should like to thank Mrs Glase for her excellent report. The Commission has opened the debate with its communication on undeclared work in the spring of 1998. We are pleased to say that it has stimulated debate both with the European institutions and within Member States. The time has come to bring together the fruits of this debate. Therefore I especially welcome Parliament's initiative in taking up this issue now.
The Commission's communication focused on the policy strategy to tackle this important problem. It has highlighted the need for an integrated approach to combating undeclared work, involving both preventive measures and sanctions. These deal with the two dimensions of undeclared work: it can be viewed as an issue of individuals taking advantage of the system and undermining solidarity in the process or as the outcome of greater flexibility in the labour market and slow adaptation of existing legislation. I am pleased to see that Parliament has agreed with the Commission's analysis.
Parliament also seems to share the view that the main action has to be taken at the level of Member States. Indeed it is the mix of the situation in the labour market, the tax and social security mix, as well as the social acceptance, that determine the level of undeclared work. For that reason, the action that can be taken at Community level can only be minimal and has to be clearly targeted in those fields where the Community can have an impact.
The Commission is also convinced that undeclared work should be dealt with within the framework of the Luxembourg process. We believe that undeclared work should be actively taken into account in the national action plans for employment. We are working with the Member States to ensure that this is so. We welcome Parliament's support in this.
However, the Commission can have an impact in developing a standard methodology to describe and record the extent of undeclared work and to assess its impact on the economy and on social solidarity. This we have done with the Communication in 1998 and we will continue to do so. Indeed the Commission is now carrying out a study on different measures used to combat undeclared work in selected Member States in order to identify good policy mixes. Results of this study will be presented in a conference at the end of the year.
However, to have annual monitoring and reporting on this problem would be heavy procedurally while not adding much new. We must not forget that undeclared work is a deeply rooted phenomenon. Changes take time. To keep this item on the agenda and to ensure that progress is reported we would suggest a triennial reporting exercise.
The Commission agrees with the analysis of Parliament that women, while not the majority of undeclared workers, often operate in situations of greater insecurity and exploitation. Within its possibilities the Commission will continue to monitor the situation and report on it within the framework of existing reports on the principle of equal treatment. That is very important to the need to maintain momentum in introducing and reinforcing equal opportunities for women and men."@en1
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