91999E1864

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1864/99

by Glyn Ford (PSE) to the Commission

(14 October 1999)

Subject: Long distance truck drivers

Is the Commission aware of reports that certain haulage firms are now employing significant numbers of drivers from outside the European Union, paying them rates below the minimum wage and forcing them to drive more than the permitted hours?

What steps will be taken by the Commission to urge governments of Member States to crack down on such practices where they occur?

Answer given by Mrs de Palacio on behalf of the Commission

(17 November 1999)

The Commission is aware of the increasing number of drivers from outside the Community that are employed often illegally by haulage firms in the Community. The Commission is very concerned about the distorting effects of this practice on road haulage competition within the Community and considers this issue to be a very pressing problem within the national and international road haulage industry.

For this reason the Commission has already written to the Member States in order to raise awareness of the problem and to gauge Member States' perception of how widespread the problem is.

As a first step towards exploring possible ways to address this issue, the Commission has asked the Member States to establish an overview of the diverse social, labour and transport rules applied by them in this area. Once the Commission has established an overview of the relevant rules and details determining current practice, further action will be considered.

A key factor which must be acknowledged is that Member States are responsible to ensure the effectiveness of enforcement arrangements within their territory. Clearly, breaches of minimum wage arrangements or even of permitted driving hours and rest periods are unacceptable. That this should occur on an almost systematic basis in some Member States is very disturbing. The Commission is also currently drawing up a report on the uniform and effective enforcement of the Community rules on driving times and rest periods based on submissions made by Member States which may result in legislative proposals in this area.