MEPs are calling for an EU directive on psychosocial risks and well-being at work in the own-initiative report by Marianne Vind (S&D, Denmark) on a new OSH strategic framework on health and safety at work post-2020 (43 votes in favour, 3 against, 8 abstentions), which was adopted by a large majority on Tuesday 1 February. All the compromise amendments were adopted.
“I am very happy with the report voted today, which is much more ambitious than the previous one (by Danish Social Democrat Ole Christensen - editor’s note) on many points”, the rapporteur told EUROPE, welcoming in particular the request for an initiative on psychosocial risks and to better prevent mental illness.
Drawing on the lessons of the pandemic, MEPs are calling for special attention to be paid to protecting and promoting the mental health of health professionals and other “frontline” workers.
In this context, they are asking for a European directive on psychosocial risks and well-being at work to be adopted in order to effectively prevent psychosocial risks in the workplace, including anxiety, depression, burnout and stress, including in relation to structural causes at the organisational level (i.e. to move from a purely individual to an organisational approach).
Also in connection with the pandemic, and more particularly with the controversy over the classification of biological agents and the level of protection of laboratory workers (see EUROPE 12503/4), MEPs again are calling on the Commission to present “without delay” a “targeted” revision of the Biological Agents Directive to make it suitable for pandemic situations, in particular by facilitating the drawing up of national emergency plans, and provide written instructions to workers in the event of a pandemic.
MEPs reiterated many of the demands already made in the past. They call on the European Commission to come up with a directive to guarantee the right to disconnect (see EUROPE 12641/4), respecting the consultation of the social partners, they insist.
Welcoming the presentation of the Directive on working conditions on digital platforms, they also insist that the policy framework covers not only employees, but also digital platform workers and atypical workers such as the false self-employed.
The issue of gender-based violence against women is also important, with MEPs inviting the European Commission to prepare a legislative initiative to prevent and combat these forms of violence also at home.
In addition, MEPs strengthened European action against cancer at work, by calling for an action plan to regulate more carcinogens, including in the fight against asbestos, an initiative urgently called for by the European Parliament in the ‘Villumsen’ report (see EUROPE 12799/22).
As the position of the shadow rapporteurs in committee (see EUROPE 12821/27) suggested, the text was relatively consensual between the different political groups, according to several sources. “There were certainly nourished exchanges between the rapporteurs, obviously, but the experience of the pandemic and the telework imposed on the MEPs as well, made it easier to create a convergence on this theme”, commented the rapporteur.
“The mental health issue has been by far the most difficult one between us, because companies are not sure how to frame these types of situations”, said Ms Vind. Another parliamentary source told us that the costs of tackling mental illness could potentially be very high for employers. However, the abstention and opposition votes came from the conservative and far-right ranks.
The own-initiative report will be put to the vote at the March plenary session.
To read the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/41 (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)