REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION , e: [email protected] Tržaška cesta 21, 1000 Ljubljana t: 01 478 83 30, f: 01 478 83

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

www.mju.gov.si, e: [email protected]

Tržaška cesta 21, 1000 Ljubljana

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International conference “The successful work safely and healthily”

Brdo pri Kranju, 7 November 2008

PILOT PROJECT ON MEASUREMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS RELATED

TO SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK

Slavko Patekar, Senior AdviserMinistry of Public Administration





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The Lisbon Strategy- Commitment of the Republic of Slovenia to full implementation of the Lisbon Strategy at the national level

Objectives:- to achieve greater competitiveness; - prepare better regulations, reducing the administrative

burdens; and- measure administrative burdens and prepare estimates concerning the effects of regulations on citizens and the economy.





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Slovenia has outlined an action plan for reducing the administrative

burden The internationally adopted Cost model for measuring administrative burdens

was confirmed by the Slovenian Strategic Council in November 2007.

In 2007, an analysis was conducted to define and identify the most common areas and responsibilities stemming from the legislation. They are the following:

- labour legislation,- financial area,- company law, - protection of the environment, - statistical statements and reports etc.





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- The Strategic Council for the preparation of better regulations and removal of administrative burdens adopted in November 2007 the Single Administrative Costs Measurement Methodology (EMMAS).

- The government of RS accepted an undertaking to reduce administrative burdens in priority areas by 25% until 2012 and a Programme of Measures for Reduction of Administrative Burdens for 2008 and 2009.

- Based on consultations with the economic sector in September 2007 and after the conducted analysis, the undertaking was adopted to reduce administrative barriers by 25 % in the priority area of labour legislation until 2010.





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Priorities of labour legislation until 2010:

- review and analysis of 25 acts and 313 implementing regulations concerning employment relationships,

- and 7 acts and 100 implementing regulations concerning the labour market and employment,

- the majority of measures for reducing administrative burdens relating to the employment of aliens have already been implemented, resulting in € 2.1 million cost reduction per year.





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Administrative Costs Measurement Methodology

- The methodology was adopted by the European Commission, choosing the model for evaluating administrative costs of businesses incurred by the EU.

- The administrative costs measurement methodology was developed to simplify the procedure of estimating administrative burdens incurred to businesses by the regulator.

- It is a relatively pragmatic approach to estimating the mentioned costs, since these are indicative and not statistically representative estimates of administrative burdens.





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The basic concepts of the methodology

- Administrative costs

- Population

- Frequency

- Administrative burden

- Correction factor





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Most common information obligations

1. Keeping records (e.g.. data collection)

2. Announcement, notification of activities (e.g.. notifying a transport of hazardous waste)

3. Transmission of reports (e.g.. tax calculation)

4. Labelling of information for third parties (e.g.. composition of product

5. Transmission of information for third parties (e.g.. application for certificate)

6. Request for any activity, relief, reimbursement (e.g.. for building permit)

7. Other





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A short description of the procedureThe EMMAS model

regulations (e.g. 1 regulation)↓

information obligation (e.g. 10 IO)↓

administrative activities (e.g. 30 AA) ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

time × hourly fee + outgoings + externalities population × frequency (gross gross salary/hour) ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ price of an administrative activity (P) × quantity (Q) ↓ ↓ administrative costs (P×Q) × correction factor (BAU costs) ↓

administrative burden of a regulation (administrative costs × correction factor)

calculation according to the EMMAS methodology (ex-post or ex-ante)





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Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety

The Ministry of Public Administration embarked on measuring administrativecosts related to Occupational Health and Safety in the framework of a pilot project.

A working group was established and the following activities were realized:

• legislative and implementing regulations relating to occupational health and safety were defined,

• information obligations stemming from the act and implementing regulations were defined (as to content, article of regulation, IO type, line ministry),

• administrative activities relating to a certain information obligation were specified (as to content, type),

• frequencies (descriptive) for an administrative activity were specified,• administrative burdens per information obligation were calculated and • proposals for simplifications were given together with calculations of possible

savings.





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The following has been reviewed: - 23 binding legal acts of the EU and ILO,- Occupational Health and Safety Act and - 36 implementing regulations

The following has been specified:

89 information obligations and 176 administrative activities.





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• The main administrative burdens have been defined at the EU level, however, responsibilities have been outlined in a very general way with possible exceptions which may be applied in their transfer into the national legislation.

• The established administrative costs for Slovenian businesses amount to € 393 million, while administrative burdens reach €265 million per year.

• The estimate shows that the occupational health and safety legislation incurs the majority of costs to businesses regardless the number of employees or the size of the company (62%).

• Overburdening of self-employed, micro companies and companies with 20 or fewer employees.





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Proposals for simplifications at the national level:

- proposals must not interfere with workers safety, so that the level of occupational safety is not reduced,

- simplify procedures for private entrepreneurs and micro companies

in activities with no specific work hazards,

- the report contains 15 proposals to simplify the legislation,

- they will be reviewed by the expert and interested public.





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Simplifications must consider specific features of the Slovenian economy

As at 31 December 2007, the Business Register of Sloveniaregistered 162.823

business entities, of which:

84,545 legal entities and 78,278 natural persons,(of which only 25,388 business entities

with more than 50 employees).





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Proposals for simplifications at the national level

According to the occupational health and safety legislation in force, employers have to keep the following records on:

- periodical examinations of chemical, physical and biological hazards, - periodical tests and examinations of work equipment, - tests and examinations of instruments and equipment for personal safety at work,- completed trainings regarding safe work and tests of practical knowledge, - special health requirements, - preventive medical examinations of workers,- notifications that must be submitted to the labour inspection by the employer, etc.

Simplification proposal: the acquired documentation concerning individual events is considered to present the records of companies with 20 or fewer employees.





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The labour inspection is to be notified by the employer on the work started at least 15 days prior to the beginning of the working process.

Simplification proposal: reduce the notification period (15 days), since the mentioned period (15 days) makes the realization of works and the time schedule more difficult (non-flexibility).

The employer has to submit to the works council and trade unions the following:- safety declaration with risk assessment,- report on the occupational health and safety situation and implemented

measures.

Simplification proposal: public announcement in the company (intranet, bulletin board, personnel service, secretariat of the company, occupational health and safety specialist service).





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The employer has to report and submit annual reports to the competent authorities concerning:

- trainings performed,- undertaken activities,- all group, serious and fatal injuries at work,- any and all explosions,- study of causes and fulfilment of conditions for deviations;

Simplification proposal: harmonization of information-giving and submittal of reports to one competent authority (acquisition of data ex officio from official records by authorities).





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The sum of savings for companies due to all the mentioned amendments and simplifications from the proposals should

amount to

€ 88.3 million per year,

which is 33.2% of all the administrative burdens imposed by the occupational health and safety legislation to businesses.





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What has to be observed when changing the legislation?

– minimum standards and small business entities should not be burdened more than necessary,

– special features of the economy,

– inviting the expert and other interested public to cooperate,

– in analysing the legislation, forming of special working groups composed of interest groups from individual areas,

– considering the introduction of certain exceptions by way of an analysis of the effects for small businesses prior to the adoption of the legislation.





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You are invited to submit your comments, opinions and suggestions that could contribute to a more efficient public administration and the removal of administrative burdens to the following address:

[email protected]

T H A N K Y O U F O R Y O U R A T T E N T I O N!

Documents

REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA MINISTRY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION , e: [email protected] Tržaška cesta 21, 1000 Ljubljana t: 01 478 83 30, f: 01 478 83