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DOT finds no laws against

27th May 1999, Page 6
27th May 1999
Page 6
Page 6, 27th May 1999 — DOT finds no laws against
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East European drivers in EU

• by Karen Miles Controversial German-owned haulage giant Willi Betz is operating within the law—but pan-European legal action could be on the way to curtail the group's practices.

These conclusions, gleaned last week by the Department of Transport from the German ministry of transport, will be of

great interest to UK hauliers, many of whom had asked the DOT to find out if Betz's impressive success throughout Europe is based on legal working practices.

Initial contact between the DOT and Bono shows. Betz is working legitimately by sticking to

the employment laws of each EU state—and then legally swapping his EU drivers for cheaper eastern European drivers once its vehicles leave the EU countries in which they are registered.

But the UK, German and Dutch governments are expected to push the European Commission to harmonise EU employment law. This would outlaw the use of eastern European drivers by EU-based hauliers on internal EU work.

Betz's operation is causing as much concern in Germany as it is elsewhere in Europe, where hauliers are complaining that the group's use of eastern European onvers allows it to undercut their rates by up to 20%.

The DoT has been told that Betz and a number of other German hauliers are employing German drivers in their German companies—but once over the border into other EU countries they are swapping to eastern Europeans. Similarly, local labour is used by Betz's other EL subsidiaries, swapping to eastern European labour once the vehicle is out of its country of registration.

This means no domestic employment laws are broken. According to the UN's Vienna Convention, EU countries cannot refuse to recognise non-EU drivers on their soil on international journeys.

el The Dill's conclusion vindicates Betz's empire, which operates from Europe to the Middle East. The company has always stressed the legitimacy of its operations. It also means that UK international hauliers who employ eastern European drivers once their vehicles are over the Channel appear to be legal. However, the EC has pledged to examine the use of East European drivers within its borders: new legislation could outlaw these practices.


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