91998E0358

WRITTEN QUESTION E-0358/98 by Herbert Bösch (PSE) to the Commission (17 February 1998)

Subject: Budget heading A-7001 (agency staff)

In the 1998 budget, under heading A-7001, ECU 12 200 m are earmarked for agency staff. On average agencies provide relatively poor working conditions and inadequate social protection for their workers.

1. In which areas are agency staff employed?

2. How many people in each area?

3. With which agencies have temporary work contracts been concluded?

4. Who is responsible for the social rights and welfare of these workers?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission (2 April 1998)

1. Agency staff employed by the Commission (Brussels and Luxembourg) work mainly in the administrative field: secretaries, multilingual typists and shorthand typists, book-keepers, clerical officers, computer staff, switchboard operators, data entry operators, conference operators, proof readers. A small number also work in the health service (nurses, laboratory technicians) or the educational sector (nursery teachers or child supervisors). The last sector covers technical staff (drivers, messengers, store-keepers and cooks).

2. The Commission employs at all times about 700 agency staff in Brussels and Luxembourg (of which 75% are multilingual secretarial staff, 20% are involved in administrative duties and 5% in other occupations).

3. Following the latest invitations to tender (No 97/15/IX.C.1, published on 24 July 1997 in respect of the Brussels departments and No 14/97/IX PIM, published on 8 August 1997, in respect of the Luxembourg departments), the Commission signed standard-form contracts for the next three years (1998, 1999 and 2000) with the possibility of renewal, with the following agencies:

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4. The contracting firms are responsible for payment and cover of occupational entitlements and social security contributions of the staff supplied to the Commission. The Commission, the agencies and the staff are required to comply with national legislation and, in particular, the Law of 24 July 1987 on temporary work and the supply of staff to clients (published on 20 August 1987 in the Moniteur Belge) and the Law of 19 May 1994 laying down the rules governing temporary work and the temporary loaning of staff (published on 31 May 1994 in the Mémorial du Luxembourg). These two Member States have some of the most comprehensive regulations on the matter in Europe.