Activities of Malcolm HARBOUR related to 2012/0061(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services (debate)
Amendments (81)
Amendment 86 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) All measures introduced by the Directive must be justified, proportionate and non-discriminatory so that they do not create administrative burdens and do not lock the potential that companies, in particular small and medium enterprises have in creating new jobs, while protecting posted workers.
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Trade unionSocial partners play an important role in the context of the posting of workers for the provision of services since social partnersthey may, in accordance with national law and/or practice, determine the different levels (alternatively or simultaneously) of the applicable minimum rates of pay. This right should come together with their responsibility for communicating and informing about the aforementioned rates.
Amendment 104 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Adequate and effective implementation and enforcement are key elements in protecting the rights of posted workers and ensuring the right of undertakings to provide services in another Member State, whereas poor enforcement undermines the effectiveness of the Union rules applicable in this area. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States is therefore essential, without neglecting the important role of labour inspectorates and the social partners in this respect.
Amendment 116 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Mutual trust, a spirit of cooperationTaking into account that the ability of the host Member State to establish factual elements regarding the foreign undertaking is limited, cooperation with the Member State of establishment is crucial and needs to be further improved. Mutual trust, a spirit of assistance, continuous dialogue and mutual understanding are essential in this respect.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14a) Where terms and conditions of employment are laid down in collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable, Member States should ensure that these collective agreements are officially published and accessible.
Amendment 135 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In order to prevent, avoid and combat circumvention and/or abuse of the applicable rules by companies taking improper or fraudulent advantage of the freedom to provide services enshrined in the Treaty and/or the application of Directive 96/71/EC the implementation and monitoring of the notion of posting should be improved, taking into consideration the principles of proportionality and non-discrimination.
Amendment 138 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4 a) All measures introduced by the Directive must be justified, proportionate and non-discriminatory so that they do not create administrative burdens and do not lock the potential that companies, in particular small and medium enterprises have in creating new jobs, while protecting posted workers.
Amendment 139 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 5
Recital 5
(5) Therefore, the constituent factual elements characterising the temporary nature inherent to the notion of posting, which implies that the employer should be genuinely established in the Member State from which the posting takes place, as well as the relationship between Directive 96/71/EC and Regulation (EC) No 593/2008 on the law applicable to contractual obligations (hereinafter the ‘Rome I Regulation’) need to be further clarified, so that a broad application of the Directive is ensured.
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8
Recital 8
(8) Trade unionSocial partners play an important role in the context of the posting of workers for the provision of services since social partnersthey may, in accordance with national law and/or practice, determine the different levels (alternatively or simultaneously) of the applicable minimum rates of pay .This right should come together with their responsibility for communicating and informing about the aforementioned rates.
Amendment 148 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 10
Recital 10
(10) Adequate and effective implementation and enforcement are key elements in protecting the rights of posted workers and ensuring the right of undertakings to provide services in another Member State, whereas poor enforcement undermines the effectiveness of the Union rules applicable in this area. Close cooperation between the Commission and the Member States is therefore essential, without neglecting the important role of labour inspectorates and the social partners in this respect.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) In order to ensure the correct application of, and to monitor compliance with, the substantive rules on the terms and conditions of employment to be respected with regard to posted workers, Member States should apply only certainsuch control measures or administrative formalities to undertakings posting workers for the provision of services. Such control measures or administrative formalities should be proportionate and not entail unjustified, excessive administrative burdens. Such measures and requirements may only be imposed provided that the competent authorities cannot carry out their supervisory task effectively without the requested information and the necessary information cannot be obtained easily from the employer of posted workers or the authorities in the Member State of establishment of the service provider within a reasonable delay and/or less restrictive measures would not ensure that the objectives of the national controls measures deemed necessary are attained.
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Mutual trust, a spirit of cooperationTaking into account that the ability of the host Member State to establish factual elements regarding the foreign undertaking is limited, cooperation with the Member State of establishment is crucial and needs to be further improved. Mutual trust, a spirit of assistance, continuous dialogue and mutual understanding are essential in this respect.
Amendment 155 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) In order to facilitate better and more uniform application of Directive 96/71/EC, it is appropriate to provide for an electronic information exchange system to facilitate administrative cooperation and competent authorities should use the Internal Market Information System (IMI) as much as possible. However, this should not prevent the application of bilateral agreements or arrangements concerning administrative cooperation.
Amendment 157 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14 a (new)
Recital 14 a (new)
(14 a) Where terms and conditions of employment are laid down in collective agreements which have been declared universally applicable, Member States should ensure that these collective agreements are officially published and accessible.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) To ensure better and more uniform application of Directive 96/71/EC as well as its enforcement in practice, and to reduce, as far as possible, differences in the level of application and enforcement across the Union, Member States should ensure that effective and, adequate, proportionate and non-discriminatory inspections are carried out on their territory and that inspected undertakings are provided with information in writing on the result of the inspection.
Amendment 168 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
Amendment 175 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 178 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
Amendment 182 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
Amendment 188 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This Directive aims to facilitate the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers, while guaranteeing respect for an appropriate level of minimum protection of the rights of posted workers for the cross-border provision of services, while facilitating the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘competent authority’ means anpublic authorityies of a Member State designated by athis Member State to perform functions under this Directive;
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 26
Recital 26
Amendment 193 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(c a) "undertaking established in a Member State" means an undertaking which actually pursues an economic activity, as referred to in Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, by the provider for an indefinite period and through a stable infrastructure from where the business of providing services is actually carried out;
Amendment 203 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
For the purpose of implementing, applying and enforcing Directive 96/71/EC the competent authorities shall take into account factual elements characterising the activities carried out by an undertaking in the State in which it is established in order to determine whether it genuinely performs substantial activities, other than purely internal management and/or administrative activities. Such elements may include:
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes, or according to national law has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 208 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) the place from which workers are posted,
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the place where the undertaking performs its substantial business activity and where it employs administrative staff,
Amendment 213 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The assessment of these elements shall be adapted to each specific case and take account of the nature of the activities and/or period of time in which these activities were carried out by the undertaking in the Member State in which it is established.
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. In any case, the possession of a certificate concerning social security such as form A1 is an indication that an undertaking genuinely performs its activities.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. The elements determining whether an undertaking in the Member State in which it is established genuinely performs activities and assessing whether a posted worker temporarily carries out his or her work in a Member State other than the one in which he or she normally works, shall be interpreted in a balanced way, in accordance with the rules concerning freedom to provide services included in the Title IV, Chapter III of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
This Directive aims to facilitate the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers, while guaranteeing respect for an appropriate level of minimum protection of the rights of posted workers for the cross- border provision of services, while facilitating the exercise of the freedom to provide services for service providers and promoting fair competition between service providers.
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
Article 5 – paragraph 2 – point f
(f) keep the information provided for in the country fiches up to date, exact and exhaustive.
Amendment 241 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) ‘'competent authority’' means anpublic authorityies of a Member State designated by athis Member State to perform functions under this Directive;
Amendment 242 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Where, in accordance with national law, traditions and practices, the terms and conditions of employment referred to in Article 3 of Directive 96/71/EC are laid down in collective agreements in accordance with article 3 paragraph 1 and 8 of that Directive, Member States should ensure that the social partners shall identify these and make the relevant information, in particular concerning the different minimum rates of pay and their constituent elements, the method used to calculate the remuneration due and the qualifying criteria for classification in the different wage categories, , available in an accessible and transparent way for Member States who then make it available to service providers from other Member States and posted workers.
Amendment 243 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Member States shall ensure that collective agreements referred to in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 8 of Directive 96/71 are subject to registration in official registers and publication. Terms and conditions of employment referred to in Article 3 of the Directive 96/71 laid down in those collective agreements have to be applied on undertakings posting workers only from the moment of official registration and publication.
Amendment 245 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point c a (new)
(ca) "undertaking established in a Member State" means an undertaking which actually pursues an economic activity, as referred to in Article 49 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, by the provider for an indefinite period and through a stable infrastructure from where the business of providing services is actually carried out;
Amendment 261 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part
1. For the purpose of implementing, applying and enforcing Directive 96/71/EC the competent authorities shall take into account factual elements characterising the activities carried out by an undertaking in the State in which it is established in order to determine whether it genuinely performs substantial activities, other than purely internal management and/or administrative activities. Such elements may include:
Amendment 263 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States may only impose the following administrative requirements and control measures, in the sectors of activities, identified pursuant to paragraph 2a (new) of this Article:
Amendment 266 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. Member States shall impose the necessary administrative requirements and control measures mentioned in paragraph 1 in a non-discriminatory, justified and proportionate manner.
Amendment 270 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retainwithin a reasonable period of time and/or retain, at the choice of the services provider, copies in paper or electronic form of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents, issued according to the national law of the Member State of establishment, during the period of posting in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 274 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
(a) the place where the undertaking has its registered office and administration, uses office space, pays taxes, or according to national law has a professional licence or is registered with the chambers of commerce or professional bodies,
Amendment 275 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) an obligationif necessary, to designate a contact person to negotiate, if necessary, on behalf of the employer with the relevant social partners in the Member State to which the posting takes place, in accordance with national legislation and practice, during the period in which the services are provided. The representative or the contact person can be any person chosen by the employer or employers association in the Member State of establishment of which the employer is a member.
Amendment 281 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b a (new)
(b a) the place from which workers are posted,
Amendment 281 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. The sectors of activities in which the national control measures listed in paragraph 1 can be applied shall be identified by the Member States based on a risk assessment. When making such risk assessment the realisation of major infrastructural projects, the special problems and needs of specific sectors, the past record of infringements, as well as the vulnerability of certain groups of workers shall be taken into account.
Amendment 284 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 (new)
At the end of each inspection, the competent authority shall provide a document which includes at least the name and address of the inspected undertaking, data identifying the competent authority, the days in which the inspection was carried out, the legal ground for the control measure applied, a justification on necessity and proportionality, upon request of the undertaking inspected - information that there are matters covered by trade secrets, a description of fraud identified or information that no fraud was identified, as well as any other relevant information. The inspected undertaking has the right to submit remarks with regard to the findings included in the document. The inspected undertaking receives a copy of the document.
Amendment 289 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point d
(d) the place where the undertaking performs its substantial business activity and where it employs administrative staff,
Amendment 291 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point e
Amendment 295 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12
Article 12
Amendment 296 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1
Amendment 297 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 303 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 306 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 309 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 310 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
The assessment of these elements shall be adapted to each specific case and take account of the nature of the activities and/or period of time in which these activities were carried out by the undertaking in the Member State in which it is established.
Amendment 313 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Amendment 317 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Amendment 321 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Amendment 332 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 18 – paragraph 2
Article 18 – paragraph 2
2. For the duration of 3 years after the entry into force of this Directive, Member States may continue to apply bilateral arrangements concerning administrative cooperation between their competent authorities as regards the application and monitoring of the terms and conditions of employment applicable to posted workers referred to in Article 3 of Directive 96/71/EC, in so far as these arrangements do not adversely affect the rights and obligations of the workers and companies concerned.
Amendment 374 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2 a. In any case, the possession of a certificate concerning social security such as form A1 is an indication that an undertaking genuinely performs its activities.
Amendment 375 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2 b. The elements determining whether an undertaking in the State in which it is established genuinely performs activities and assessing whether a posted worker temporarily carries out his or her work in a Member State other than the one in which he or she normally works, shall be interpreted in a balanced way, in accordance with the rules concerning freedom to provide services included in the Title IV, Chapter III of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 376 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Article 3 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 3
Amendment 395 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. In any case, the possession of a certificate concerning social security such as form A1 is an indication that an undertaking genuinely performs its activities.
Amendment 396 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 b (new)
2b. The elements determining whether an undertaking in the State in which it is established genuinely performs activities and assessing whether a posted worker temporarily carries out his or her work in a Member State other than the one in which he or she normally works, shall be interpreted in a balanced way, in accordance with the rules concerning freedom to provide services included in the Title IV, Chapter III of the Treaty on Functioning of the European Union.
Amendment 398 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 2 c (new)
2c. All the factual elements enumerated in paragraph 1 and 2 are only indicative factors in the overall assessment to be made and may therefore never be considered in isolation. The criteria shall be adapted to each specific case and take account of the specificities of the situation. The non-meeting of one or more of the criteria does not necessary preclude the situation of posting, but should help in the evaluation of genuine posting. The criteria in paragraphs 1 and 2 are intended to assist a competent authority in cases where the competent authority has reason to believe that a worker may not qualify as posted under Directive 96/71/EC. In such cases the competent authority may apply the criteria and factual elements in paragraphs 1 and 2 which it considers are relevant to the circumstances under consideration. There is no requirement that evidence must be supplied in respect of each criteria or that each criteria must be satisfied in every instance of a posting.
Amendment 451 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4
Article 5 – paragraph 4
4. Where, in accordance with national law, traditions and practices, the terms and conditions of employment referred to in Article 3 of Directive 96/71/EC are laid down in collective agreements in accordance with article 3 paragraph 1 and 8 of that Directive, Member States should ensure that the social partners shall identify these and make the relevant information, in particular concerning the different minimum rates of pay and their constituent elements, the method used to calculate the remuneration due and the qualifying criteria for classification in the different wage categories, , available in an accessible and transparent way for Member States who then make it available to service providers from other Member States and posted workers.
Amendment 455 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 5 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Member States shall ensure that collective agreements referred to in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 8 of Directive 96/71 are subject to registration in official registers and publication. Terms and conditions of employment referred to in Article 3 of the Directive 96/71 laid down in those collective agreements have to be applied on undertakings posting workers only from the moment of official registration and publication.
Amendment 562 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point b
(b) an obligation to keep or make available and/or retainwithin a reasonable period of time and/or retain, at the choice of the services provider, copies in paper or electronic form of the employment contract (or an equivalent document within the meaning of Directive 91/533, including, where appropriate or relevant, the additional information referred to in Article 4 of that Directive), payslips, time-sheets and proof of payment of wages or copies of equivalent documents, issued according to the national law of the Member State of establishment, during the period of posting in an accessible and clearly identified place in its territory, such as the workplace or the building site, or for mobile workers in the transport sector the operations base or the vehicle with which the service is provided;
Amendment 581 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d
(d) an obligationif necessary, to designate a contact person to negotiate, if necessary, on behalf of the employer with the relevant social partners in the Member State to which the posting takes place, in accordance with national legislation and practice, during the period in which the services are provided. The representative or the contact person can be any person chosen by the employer or employers association in the Member State of establishment of which the employer is a member.
Amendment 599 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall impose the necessary administrative requirements and control measures mentioned in paragraph 1 in a non-discriminatory, justified and proportionate manner.
Amendment 698 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12
Article 12
Amendment 702 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Amendment 719 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a
Amendment 729 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Amendment 737 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 745 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Article 12 – paragraph 2
Amendment 756 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Article 12 – paragraph 3
Amendment 765 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 12 – paragraph 4
Article 12 – paragraph 4