On Monday 28 November, the European Commission adopted an updated recommendation on occupational diseases, asking Member States to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease if it is contracted by workers in disease prevention, health and social care, home help or - in the event of a pandemic - in other sectors where there is an epidemic and a proven risk of infection.
In a statement, the European Commission also stresses the importance of supporting workers infected with Covid-19 and families who have lost members due to occupational exposure to the disease.
This recommendation follows a tripartite agreement reached in May 2022 by Member States, workers and employers in the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH).
While most Member States already recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease or accident at work, the update “aims to further encourage convergence and recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease across the EU”.
The recommendation aims, inter alia, to establish quantified national targets for reducing the rates of recognised occupational diseases and to ensure the reporting of all cases of occupational diseases.
Link to the recommendation: https://aeur.eu/f/4bw (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)