WRITTEN QUESTION E-3981/97 by Angela Billingham (PSE) to the Commission (14 January 1998)

Subject: Comparative analysis of national minimum wages in Europe

Could the European Commission inform me whether there is any regular survey or comparative analysis of national minimum wages in the European Union?

Has the European Commission honoured its commitment in its 1993 Opinion on an equitable wage in which it called for action to improve transparency with regards to wages?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (18 February 1998)

The Commission opinion on an equitable wage ((COM(93) 288 final. )) considered that Member States should improve transparency of the labour market by a better collection and dissemination of comparable statistical information about wage structures.

On 8 January 1997 the Commission adopted a progress report on equitable wages ((COM(96) 698 final. )), according to which transparency in wage information remains a problem area for all Member States. The wage statistics widely available at Member State level are often too general and too out of date to aid transparency, and wage information generated by job vacancy information is derived from too narrow a base to be useful.

It was also found that data on the structure of earnings and changes in income differentials are not generally available on a Community wide basis. However, new information sources have been initiated by the Commission and should provide some useful indicators over the next few years.

As part of the ongoing commitment to improve transparency concerning wage rates, and following on from last year's progress report, a publication 'Minimum wages, 1997- A comparative study' will be available in March 1998.