WRITTEN QUESTION No. 839/98 by Ernesto CACCAVALE to the Commission. Systematic use of seasonal contracts by southern Italian motorway building firms
C 386/50 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 11. 12. 98 (98/C 386/067) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0839/98 by Ernesto Caccavale (UPE) to the Commission (26 March 1998) Subject: Systematic use of seasonal contracts by southern Italian motorway building firms For the past ten years or more, southern Italian motorway building firms have continued to recruit workers under seasonal contracts. Although there are still staff shortages in some sectors, the number of ácasual labourersí has risen above four hundred. Since 1992, while they have been awaiting a final contract, they have continued to work for just three months a year without the benefit of social security contributions, incentives, or settlement at the end of each quarter. Moreover, because they have spent too long waiting for a proper contract, many of them have reached an age at which they have no prospect whatsoever of finding a job in any of the normal ways. The firms in question resort to such practices even though they have obtained and are still receiving the Community funding provided for under European Regional Development Fund programmes to finance the expansion, reorganization, and modernization of motorway networks. It follows that such funding should enable the firms to recruit employees under permanent contracts and, at any rate, curb the policy of seasonal recruitment. Can the Commission check whether the firms concerned are entitled to hire workers on a seasonal basis when they are benefiting from the plethora of money and advantages designed to combat southern Italyís endemic unemployment? Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (24 April 1998) This is not a matter for the Commission. The structural funds regulations contain no specific requirements in respect of the type of contract used to employ those engaged on the construction or management of infrastructure projects cofinanced by the funds. (98/C 386/068) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0868/98 by Ursula Stenzel (PPE) to the Commission (26 March 1998) Subject: Alpine transit The Commission would like to submit a proposal for the harmonization of the prohibitions relating to the use of heavy goods vehicles at weekends and on public holidays. Only eight Member States have restrictions on the use of HGVs, which differ, Austria having the strictest legislation. This regulation will therefore have far-reaching implications. Does the Commission see any way of retaining the prohibition of the use of HGVs on Saturdays, which is so important for Austria, and if not, in what circumstances might there be exceptions? Austria has most public holidays in the EU, and a numerical ceiling would have lasting implications for Austria. Can the Commission say whether there are plans to take account of the large number of Austrian public holidays, and what form might this take in practice? Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (23 April 1998) The Honourable Member refers to a recent Commission proposal for a directive to harmonise rules governing driving bans on heavy goods vehicles (1)