While the European Commission is increasing the number of recommendations affecting the transport sector (see EUROPE 12452/14, 12449/1, 12447/6) in order to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, there is denunciation of the conditions under which many workers, mainly lorry drivers, are now obliged to work.
In a joint statement unveiled on Tuesday 24 March, a coalition of 33 European organisations, gathered under the hashtag #TransportisEssential4all, called on the European Union and member states to show "respect and support" for all supply chain workers.
Protecting Health and Safety
These workers enable "the continuity of transport services, the movement of goods and essential commodities, as well as the repatriation of stranded citizens", the 33 associations stress.
These represent, among others, infrastructure managers, workers in all modes of transport and logistics, local authorities, logistics service providers, shippers, users and equipment suppliers.
They all stress the importance of protecting the "health and safety" of workers in the sector, "notably through personal protective equipment, as well as access to clean and disinfected sanitary facilities, food and drinks".
The transport and logistics sectors are "physically labour-intensive", they emphasise, calling on the European Commission and Member States to facilitate the mobility, including repatriation, of this labour force.
20 countries relax driving and rest time rules
Mainly concerned by recent measures to ensure the free movement of goods: drivers and lorry drivers.
In a letter dated 22 March, Ismail Ertug MEP (S&D, Germany), a member of the European Parliament's Transport Committee, and his Swedish colleague Johan Danielsson, S&D coordinator on that committee, expressed their concern about the "dismantling" of the EU driving and rest time regime to Transport Commissioner Adina Vălean and the relevant EU ministers.
The introduction of a "temporary relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles transporting goods" had indeed been suggested by the Commissioner Vălean to ministers on 18 March (see EUROPE 12449/1). So far, 20 countries have already taken steps in this direction.
With the Commission's approval, most have increased the daily driving limit from 9 to 10 hours (or even 11 hours twice a week) and the weekly limit from 56 to 60 hours.
But "accidents due to fatigue are not just disappearing because we have a crisis situation", argue the two MEPs, referring to a "great deal of discontent amongst the driver community" and possible calls for strikes.
Contacted by trade unions, the European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) raised the alert on the situation on the day after the Transport Ministers' meeting - highlighting the influx of "desperate appeals" and drew up a list of recommendations. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)