Brussels, 18/06/2007 (Agence Europe) - The decision of the European Court of Justice in the European Commission case against the United Kingdom (Case 127/05) for failing to transpose the 1989 framework directive on workers' health and safety (EUROPE 9446) may go against workers' inalienable right to protection of health and safety at work. This ruling effectively accepts that the employer's obligation to respect workers' health and safety in the workplace could be limited by considerations of a financial nature. This concern was expressed by Walter Cerfeda, Confederal Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) who also heads health and safety issues at the union. In a declaration he explained that “this ruling could be a sign of encouragement from the European Court to states which want to cut back European legislation on workers' rights”. He appealed for the European institutions, especially the Commission, to ensure that the framework objectives are fully respected. (gb)