Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Added(b) local units;

Added(c) employees.

Added2. For topics labour cost index, referred to in Article 4(1), point (b)(ii) and job vacancies, referred to in Article 4(1), point (c)(i), the statistical population shall consist of all enterprises or all local units that are resident of the Member State and which fulfil the following conditions:

Added(a) their main economic activity is included in any section of the NACE classification, except ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’, ‘Activities of households as employers and undifferentiated goods – and services – producing activities of households for own use’ and ‘Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies’ and

Added(b) they have 1 or more employees.

Added3. For topics structure of earnings, referred to in Article 4(1), point (a)(i), and gender pay gap, referred to in Article 4(1), point (a)(ii), as regards data on the employer, the statistical population shall consist of all local units that are resident of the Member State and which fulfil the following conditions:

Added(a) their economic activity is included in any section of the NACE classification, except ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’, ‘Activities of households as employers and undifferentiated goods – and services – producing activities of households for own use’ and ‘Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies’; and

Added(b) they have 1 or more employees.

AddedFor the topics structure of earnings and the gender pay gap, as regards data on the employee, the statistical population shall consist of all employees whose local unit belongs to the statistical population defined under points (a) and (b) of the first subparagraph.

Added4. By derogation to points (a) and (b) of paragraph 3, as regards gender pay gap data for reference period 2026, the transmission shall cover all local units that are part of enterprises with 10 or more employees and that, in addition to the activities excluded in paragraph 3 point (a), do not belong to the section ‘Public administration and defence; compulsory social security’ of the NACE classification.

Added5. For the topic structure of labour costs, referred to in Article 4(1), point (b)(i), the statistical population shall consist of all local units that are resident of the Member State and which fulfil the following conditions:

Added(a) their economic activity is included in any section of the NACE classification, except ‘Agriculture, forestry and fishing’, ‘Activities of households as employers and undifferentiated goods – and services – producing activities of households for own use’ and ‘Activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies’; and

Added(b) they are part of enterprises with 10 or more employees.

Added5a. For all the topics listed in the Annex, Member States shall collect and provide separate data in respect of social enterprises.

AddedAd hoc data requirements

Added1. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts supplementing this Regulation in accordance with Article 13 by specifying the information to be provided by Member States on an ad hoc basis, where, within the scope of this Regulation, the collection of additional data is deemed necessary for the purpose of addressing additional statistical data needs that cannot be otherwise fulfilled. Those delegated acts shall specify:

Added(a) the detailed topics to be provided in the ad hoc data collection related to the domains and topics specified in Article 4 and the reasons for such additional needs;

Added(b) the reference periods and transmission deadlines.

Added2. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts referred to in paragraph 1 starting with reference year 2028 and with a minimum of 2 years between each ad hoc collection.

Added3. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to specify the ad hoc information referred to in paragraph 1 and metadata. Those implementing acts shall specify the following technical elements, where appropriate:

Added(a) the list and description of variables;

Added(b) statistical classifications and data breakdowns;

Added(c) detailed specifications of the statistical units covered;

Added(d) the metadata to be transmitted;

Added(e) the data collection periods.

AddedThose implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 14(2) not later than 24 months before the beginning of the relevant reference period.

AddedQuality requirements and quality reporting

Added1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure the quality of the data and metadata transmitted.

Added2. Member States shall ensure that the data, including back data, obtained using the sources laid down in Article 3 provide a full coverage of and give accurate estimates on the statistical units and population defined in Article 6.

Added3. For the purpose of this Regulation, the quality criteria defined in Article 12(1) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009 shall apply.

Added4. Member States shall transmit quality reports on the sources and methods for each of the topics listed in Article 4.

Added5. The Commission shall adopt implementing acts to set out the practical arrangements for the quality reports and their content. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 14(2).

Added6. Member States shall inform the Commission (Eurostat) about any relevant information or change with regard to the implementation of this Regulation that would influence the quality of the data transmitted. The information shall be given as soon as possible and no later than 3 months after any such change enters into force.

Added7. Upon ▐request from the Commission (Eurostat), Member States shall provide additional information necessary to evaluate the quality of the statistical information.

Added8. The Commission (Eurostat) shall assess the quality of the data transmitted, the sources and methods used and the sampling frames. The Commission (Eurostat) shall prepare and publish reports on the quality of the data transmitted, sources and methods used. In those reports, the Commission (Eurostat) shall recommend how to manage the sources considered to be of low quality, and the data collected through those sources.

AddedFeasibility and pilot studies

Added1. In order to improve the labour market statistics on businesses or to limit the administrative and financial burden on enterprises, in particular SMEs and micro-enterprises, the Commission (Eurostat) may initiate feasibility and pilot studies. The purpose of such studies shall include at least one of the following elements:

Added(a) improving the quality and comparability of data;

Added(b) exploring new possibilities and implementing new features to respond to user needs;

Added(c) improving integration between surveys and other data sources;

Added(d) reducing the burden on respondents;

Added(e) improving the cost-effectiveness of data collection.

AddedThe studies shall take into account technological and digital developments.

Added1a. Data collected as part of the pilot studies referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article shall be limited to the domains and topics listed in Article 4(1) and the detailed topics specified in the Annex.

Added2. Member States may participate in those studies on a voluntary basis. In cooperation with the Commission (Eurostat), they shall ensure the studies are representative at Union level.

Added3. The results of those studies shall be evaluated by the Commission (Eurostat) in cooperation with Member States and the main stakeholders, including social partners. The Commission (Eurostat) shall prepare reports on the findings of the studies in cooperation with the Member States. Those reports shall be made publicly available.

AddedIn the reports referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission (Eurostat) may recommend how pilot studies should be integrated as permanent solutions.

Added3a. The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 13 to supplement this Regulation by specifying the roles and responsibilities of the actors conducting the studies referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article insofar processing of personal data takes place for the purpose of those studies.

AddedFinancing

Added1. A financial contribution may be provided from the general budget of the Union to the national statistical institutes and other national authorities, referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 223/2009, to:

Added(a) improve sources, including sampling frames, for the labour market statistics on businesses, from the date this Regulation enters into force until 31 December 2029 at the latest;

Added(b) improve methods for the labour market statistics on businesses, including the feasibility and pilot studies referred to in Article 9.

AddedThe Union shall not finance costs for the regular compilation of statistics to be transmitted under this Regulation.

Added2. The Union financial contribution shall not exceed 80% of the eligible costs.

AddedProtection of the financial interests of the Union

Added1. The Commission shall take appropriate measures to ensure that, when actions financed under this Regulation are implemented, the financial interests of the Union are protected by the application of preventive measures against fraud, corruption and any other illegal activities, by effective checks and, if irregularities are detected, by the recovery of the amounts wrongly paid and, where appropriate, by effective, proportionate and dissuasive administrative and financial penalties.

Added2. The Commission or its representatives and the Court of Auditors shall have the power of audit, on the basis of documents and on-the-spot checks, over all grant beneficiaries, contractors and subcontractors who have received Union funds under this Regulation.

Added3. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) may carry out investigations, including on-the-spot checks and inspections, in accordance with the provisions and procedures laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 with a view to establishing whether there has been fraud, corruption or any other illegal activity affecting the financial interests of the Union in connection with a grant agreement or grant decision or contract funded under this Regulation.

Added4. Without prejudice to paragraphs 1, 2 and 3, cooperation agreements with third countries and with international organisations, contracts, grant agreements and grant decisions resulting from the implementation of this Regulation shall contain provisions expressly empowering the Commission, the Court of Auditors, the European Public Prosecutor and OLAF to conduct such audits and investigations, in accordance with their respective competences.

AddedDerogations