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The ETUC is using Workers Memorial Day to appeal again to the European Commission to prioritize workplace health and safety in its plans for the next five years in light of the coronavirus crisis.<\/p>\n
Trade unions first raised the alarm last September when occupational health and safety was omitted from Ursula von der Leyen\u2019s political guidelines, pointing out that every year there are 4,000 fatal accidents at work and 120,000 people die of work-related cancer.<\/p>\n
Despite that, the Commission continued to overlook this matter of life or death when it published its work programme for 2019 to 2024 in January.<\/p>\n
The ETUC is now writing again to the Commission President to urge her to reassess her priorities in light of the coronavirus crisis, which has been responsible for hundreds of deaths at work.<\/p>\n
In a separate letter sent to Nicholas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, today the ETUC and its affiliates have called on him to ensure Covid-19 is recognised as an occupational disease.<\/p>\n
Our appeals come on Workers Memorial Day, the international day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives at work which is routinely observed by the European Commission.<\/p>\n
The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to:<\/strong><\/p>\n ETUC Deputy General Secretary Per Hilmersson said: <\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThe omission of health and safety from the European Commission\u2019s agenda was astonishing before the crisis considering there are still 4,000 fatal accidents at work and 120,000 people dying of work-related cancer every year.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cIn light of recent events, it would be grossly negligent to keep turning a blind eye to this matter of life and death.<\/p>\n \u201cYet workplace health and safety is still not given the importance it deserves in the Commission\u2019s roadmap towards lifting Covid-19 containment measures. The exit strategy needs to have a hazard-based approach, with proper prevention measures put in place before we can return to work.<\/p>\n “\u201cIt is high time for Ursula von der Leyen and her team to prioritize occupational health and safety, of which there was no mention in her political guidelines when elected Commission President and of which is still no mention in the recently leaked Commission work programme.\u201d<\/p>\n\n