16/05/2017 (Agence Europe) – The cleaning, insurance and construction sectors have sounded the alarm regarding the legislative proposals to introduce a European electronic services card (see EUROPE 11700). In a joint letter published on 10 May, these sectors expressed concern that this card could exacerbate the phenomena of forcing workers to become independent, undeclared work, the bogus posting of workers and, at a more general level, undermining social and labour legislation. Six organisations (FIEC, UNI Global Union, Insurance Europe, AMICE, BIPAR, EFBWW) have expressed their concern that the member states of origin will confirm the information provided by the “services” card without carrying out any genuine research to verify whether the companies really do exist or whether they are simply letterbox companies. This project is also causing divisions at the Council. The “services” card will not be discussed at the next Competitiveness Council on 29 May. (PH)