Undeclared work: a new source of employment?

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to focus upon some of the more innovative projects that are being pursued in Europe that move beyond the conventional punitive approach and seek to provide positive incentives and new institutional arrangements to enable undeclared work to be transformed into legitimate employment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper evaluates the service vouchers policy initiative in Belgium and the Harz Committee policy recommendations, especially mini jobs, in Germany.

Findings

The finding is that although significant numbers of declared jobs have been created by these schemes, sometimes at a relatively low cost compared with other options for creating new formal jobs, such initiatives have had a relatively minor impact on the overall level of undeclared work in these societies.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to bring these innovative policy initiatives to the attention of an English‐speaking audience.

Citation

Renooy, P. (2007), "Undeclared work: a new source of employment?", International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, Vol. 27 No. 5/6, pp. 250-256. https://doi.org/10.1108/01443330710757276