Brussels moves to ban the use of cheap non-EU drivers
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• by Alan Osborn and Dominic Perry The campaign to outlaw the practice whereby hauliers employ East European drivers to cut costs took a giant step forward this week after European transport ministers reached agreement on a new regulation.
In a bid to stop problems associated with "social dumping", the regulation would require operators to give non-EU drivers the same pay and conditions as EU citizens.
By using non-EL drivers, firms such as Willi Betz have been able to dramatically undercut their competitors. Some operators paying lower wages then double-man trucks to increase productivity.
The agreement to end the practice follows a recommendation by the European Commission last November (CM 30 Nov-6 Dec 2000). It overcomes objections by the UK and Denmark that all drivers, including EU citizens, would have to carry certificates proving their employment complies with EU regulations.
As the proposal now stands only non-EU drivers will have to carry these certificates, which will be issued by the country in which the transport operator is based.
EU countries will also have to ensure that their operators pay non-EU drivers a fair wage by EU standards.
The issue will now be considered by the European Parliament in May, but an EC spokesman says that it is unlikely to run into problems. He explains: 'This regulation is in response to the practice of operators such as Willi Betz who employ a German driver for the German stage of the journey and then switch at the French bor der to a Bulgarian driver who then com pletes the rest of the journey. "The Bulgarian is paid a lot less than the German because of the Bulgarian social conditions and this means that Betz has an unfair commercial advantage."
Roger King, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, has welcomed the EC's move: 'Employing East European drivers at East European rates gives firms elsewhere in the in the EU a competitive edge, which cannot be right in the single market. This ruling has sent a clear warning that it will not be tolerated any longer.
it is an excellent opportunity to make sure that the likes of Willi Betz face up to the real cost of competing in this market."
A spokesman for the Freight Transport Association adds: "It is high time that this area of significant commercial advantage was looked at."
• See Comment, page 7.