Yesterday we published a new report arguing that COVID-19 needs to be classified as an occupational disease. This is vital for workers who have been infected and suffer the consequences long after having contracted the disease. This is also a demand of the ETUC and the European Trade Union Federations and we will use the report to again raise the issues with the European Parliament and Commission.
Unfortunately, the need to address long-COVID is missing from the EU strategic framework on health and safety at work 2021-2027 that was published in June - but it does include a number of issues raised by EPSU such as action on repro-toxins and exposure to hazardous medical products. It also has a particular focus on the health and care sector. The strategy covers other areas that EPSU has addressed including cancer, mental health and workplace harassment and gender bias. In particular the framework foresees work on a legislative initiative on preventing and combatting gender-based violence against women and domestic violence before the end of 2021. This will need a focus on addressing violence against women at the work place as well. In contrast, it is disappointing that no legislation is foreseen to tackle musculoskeletal disorders - a significant problem for health and care workers as underlined in recent seminars organised with the employers in hospitals (HOSPEEM) and social care (Social Service Employers).
The right to safe and healthy working conditions
An important element of the framework is that the EU will support the integration of the right to safe and healthy working conditions into the International Labour Organisation (ILO) framework of fundamental principles and rights at work. The global unions have long argued that occupational health and safety should be a fundamental right at work. A report by the ILO and World Health Organisation (WHO) shows that around 2 million workers die from work-related accidents every year. The ITUC, the global union confederation, says that “until the ILO recognises occupational health and safety as a fundamental principle and right at work, people will continue to die needlessly because of their jobs.”
Implementing risk assessments, the right to refuse dangerous work and strengthening the role of health and safety representatives, trade unions and collective bargaining and social dialogue are tried and tested methods to reduce accidents and help the EU to realise its zero workplace-related deaths target. This should also lead its work with countries outside the EU in the Eastern Partnership and Southern Mediterranean areas. In recent meetings, we heard from some of our unions outside the EU that trade unions and workplace representatives are often under attack. The European Commission needs to step up its defence of trade union rights.
An important health and safety - as well as fundamental rights - issue is the current discussion in many countries around mandatory vaccinations. We are surveying our affiliates to find out the situation in their countries and their positions. Unions have been promoting vaccination but are very concerned about making it obligatory. It is certainly not acceptable that governments impose this without union consultation. Discussions are needed about fundamental rights; workers’ rights; health and safety policies; conditions for implementation; time frames…and so on. The ETUC is also conducting a survey of confederations’ positions.
29 October – global action day for care workers
I joined trade unionists from Belgian affiliates this week in a protest action against the privatisation of public care in Flanders. Conservative and liberal parties believe that this will lead to more efficiency and cost savings. Public Services International General Secretary Rosa Pavanelli and I wrote a public opinion piece for a major Belgian newspaper, debunking those ideas based on experience from across the world. Similar protests against privatisation are currently underway in Switzerland, while Spanish unions are engaged in a battle in Madrid and the Portuguese nurses’ union reported that it pushed back several public private partnerships for hospitals.
The pandemic has underlined to many that the commercialisation of our health and care services is not the way forward. The focus needs to be on workers and improvements to their pay and conditions. UK health unions have just rejected a measly pay offer and are planning action. We urgently need increased staffing levels to ensure the quality of care. A recent WHO report supports our long-standing demands which will be underlined by the trade unions across the world who will join the global action day for workers in care services on 29 October. Many workers in this sector - up to 90% or more of whom are women – face precarious employment conditions, have an unsafe working environment and do not get the recognition they deserve. Please join them on this action day.
