The initiative intends to raise awareness amongst workers, companies and policymakers that undeclared work does not pay off:

- it deprives workers of social protection
- it distorts competition between businesses and
- it leads to huge gaps in public finances

A [new special Eurobarometer](https://ec.europa.eu/commfrontoffice/publicopinion/index.cfm/survey/getsurveydetail/instruments/special/surveyky/2250) illustrates the scale of the problem: one in ten Europeans report they have purchased goods or services in the past year that might have derived from undeclared work. A third of Europeans know somebody who works undeclared.

The campaign to transform undeclared into declared work is kicking off on social media ([\#EU4FairWork](https://twitter.com/hashtag/EU4FairWork)). A [week for action for declared work](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/undeclared-work/eu4fairwork-campaign) will start in EU Member States with a range of activities.

The Commission will also adopt a report on the activities of the [European Platform tackling undeclared work](https://www.ela.europa.eu/en/undeclared-work), composed of the relevant authorities of all Member States and representatives of cross-industry social partners on EU level.

The network aims to help EU countries learn from each other and engage in closer cross-border cooperation. Launched in 2016, it's now on its way to becoming part of the European Labour Authority (ELA), allowing to do even more.

## Background

National authorities are primarily responsible to tackle undeclared work. At the same time, this is also an important policy objective of the [European Employment Strategy](https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=101&langId=en), contributing to a fairer European labour market and to the delivery of the [European Pillar of Social Rights](https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1226&langId=en).

In the near future, the European Labour Authority will start coordinating the cooperation efforts at EU level.