In a first exchange in the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) on Tuesday 26 October, the shadow rapporteurs all welcomed the draft text tabled by Marianne Vind (S&D, Denmark) on the OSH strategic framework for safety and health at work, both for its ambition and for having heard the feedback from individual MEPs.
During her speech, Mrs Vind summarised the main messages of her report (see EUROPE 12807/28), including her desire to develop more precise rules, in particular to better prevent psychosocial illnesses in connection with the rise of telework in the wake of the pandemic. In particular, she calls for a study on the phenomenon of ‘burn-out’ and insists on the importance of imposing the right to disconnect. Furthermore, she stressed strengthening the labour inspection services to enforce the already existing European rules.
The shadow rapporteurs agreed with the rapporteur, systematically citing the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the recent own-initiative report on the protection of workers from asbestos (see EUROPE 12816/11). Cindy Franssen (EPP, Belgium) stressed the importance of going beyond targets to develop concrete rules. This point has been repeated by almost all other rapporteurs. The Belgian MEP also insisted on the revision of the Biological Agents Directive, the introduction of new exposure thresholds in the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive, citing cobalt, lead, and the ask of the European trade unions to quickly cover 50 additional substances.
The protection of digital platform workers was mentioned by most of the shadow rapporteurs, regardless of the status of these workers (employee or self-employed). Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew Europe, France) highlighted the need to focus on care workers and workers “on the front line” during health crises. Furthermore, she cited the use of the workplace as a place to promote public health “in the broadest sense” (such as raising awareness of physical activity or healthy eating).
Sara Matthieu (Greens/EFA, Belgium), for her part, noted the importance of taking into account the impact of climate change in the workplace. Elżbieta Rafalska (ECR, Poland) highlighted the importance of tackling exposure to dangerous medicines, as did Nikolaj Villumsen (The Left, Denmark), who generally welcomed the report’s level of ambition.
The deadline for tabling amendments is 9 November. The vote in committee is scheduled for January 2022. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)