Page 442 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS320 Michael Frosch
the possibility to measure the different levels of ICSE-18 with different
frequencies depending on national needs and context.
The implementation of ICSE-18 will increase the number of questions in
most LFS and hence raise respondent burden. However, it is important to keep
in mind that many of the key characteristics are already often collected. In
addition, most of the information needed for defining the ICSE-18 categories
is also often quite relevant labour market information by itself.
The 20 ICLS resolution I is a clearer and more comprehensive framework
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that meets the needs of different types of users and that better reflects the
economic risk and degree of authority that is associated with the work
relationship. The expectation is that ICSE-18 will greatly improve the current
situation where the work relationship is typically defined solely on the basis of
the self-identification of the respondent and where the treatment of particular
groups of workers is unclear, with the result that countries are using different
practices. Instead, the new ICSE-18 requires a more objective measurement in
which the status in employment is derived on the basis of information
collected using multiple questions. This will contribute to increased
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international harmonisation. At the same time, the 20 ICLS resolution I also
poses challenges for countries and more guidance is still needed. The
proposed measurement approach gives clear guidelines that countries can use
for most of the part of ICSE-18 and the cross-cutting variables. However, there
are still some important aspects, such as the identification of dependent
contractors that need further methodological testing and development of
guidance. This paper has focused on ICSE-18 but there are also other aspects
of the resolution that need further conceptual and methodological work.
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The 20 ICLS resolution I and the data collection guidelines are important
steps to improving the measurement of work relationships, but more work is
needed and in the end it is a dynamic process that relies on the active
participation from a broad and diverse set of countries. Countries are therefore
encouraged to conduct further testing for contributing to the methodological
work as well as carry out tests at the national level before implementing ICSE-
18.

References
1. International Labour Organization, 2018a, Resolution concerning
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statistics on work relationships, adopted by the 20 International
Conference of Labour Statisticians, Geneva.
https://www.ilo.org/global/statistics-anddatabases/meetings-and-
events/international-conference-of-labour-
statisticians/20/WCMS_648693/lang-en/index.htm

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