Brussels, 30/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - A delegation from the Socialist and Democrat (S&D) Group in the European Parliament (EP), accompanied by European trade union representatives, will visit the construction site of the EPR nuclear reactor at Flamanville (Manche, France) to assess work conditions and workers' accommodation, the S&D has announced in a press release. “We have serious concerns over the recruitment and working conditions on this site following publication of several worrying articles in the press”, says French MEP Estelle Grelier. “MEPs want a clearer idea of what the working conditions really are there. And if exploitation is confirmed, they will not hesitate to alert European bodies”, Grelier is quoted as saying in Le Figaro.
An alarming report from the Nuclear Safety Association (ASN) speaks of unfair, worrying and dangerous wage practices for hundreds of European workers, among whom several dozen would appear to have been urgently returned to Poland, the S&D press release goes on. According to Le Figaro, the ASN said it found irregularities, for example, in social protection for workers under contract to a company employing 70-80 Polish workers. It also informed justice authorities last week that, in 2010, a quarter of work-related accidents on this site, where EDF is the main contractor, were not declared.
The S&D delegation will be led by EP employment committee chairwoman Pervenche Berès (France), constituency MEP Estelle Grelier and employment committee member Jutta Steinruck (Germany). (G.B./transl.rt)