Brussels, 19/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - The European social partners agreed with the European Commission on Monday 16 January that transposition of the directive on exposure of workers to magnetic fields should be delayed by two years. In a letter of Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner Laszlo Andor, the secretaries general of the ETUC (trade unions), the UEAPME (small businesses and craft) and the CEEP (public companies) and the director general of BusinessEurope (employers) are as one in saying that the delay is “necessary from a practical point of view and to ensure legal certainty”. They go on to say that “sufficient time is required by the Council and the European Parliament to find a satisfactory agreement”. Their concern comes from the many amendments that have been made to the directive (2004/40/EC) which make it difficult to stick to the 30 April 2012 deadline for transposition. (JK/transl.rt)