It concerns illegal employment, which often leads to wage compression and a reduction in state revenue, with all the concomitant difficulties in providing benefits, and a reduction in the operation of the welfare state.

B. whereas at the same time the core Member States and the European institutions are imposing further restrictions on national budgets and are strengthening the Stability Pact; whereas this policy will compress demand while cutting wages and paving the way for the introduction of a radical liberalisation programme, thereby creating the conditions for a new economic crisis; whereas the European Commission is preparing the ground for the implementation of an austerity policy by proposing further pension reforms in 2011, further reforms of the job protection and state aid system and further liberalisation and privatisation,

We have a situation right now at Expertech where Bell Canada wants to see 25% concessions in wages and benefits in order to compete.

The gradual closing of the wage gap between the sexes is due not to women's increased access to better employment opportunities, although some gains have been made, but to occupational segregation and the depressing of male wages.

The European Central Bank pioneered the pressure to squeeze wages, to reduce social spending and to change the insurance system for the benefit of private capital.

If my memory serves me correctly, even in downsizing, our wage bill, including benefits, will be in the area of $10 billion.