![\"etuc3\"](\"https:\/\/28april.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/etuc3.jpg\")
<\/a>Every year 100,000 people in the EU die from occupational cancers.<\/p>\nIn October 2013 the European Commission stopped developing exposure limits for chemicals that cause cancer because it is reviewing \u2018red tape\u2019 \u2013 with the result that only 3 cancer-causing chemicals have European exposure limits!<\/p>\n
Now the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is demanding<\/p>\n
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- Legally enforceable exposure limits for the for a priority list of the 50 most toxic chemicals for causing cancer, and for male and female fertility.<\/li>\n
- Progress on the revision of the Directive on Carcinogens and Mutagens at work to expand the number of chemicals with binding exposure limits<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u201cMeasures to protect workers from cancer and fertility difficulties, are being treated as \u2018red tape\u2019 and a so-called \u2018unnecessary burden\u2019 on industry\u201d said Bernadette S\u00e9gol, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation. \u201cIt is shameful.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cI am all in favour of \u2018better regulation\u2019 but this is treating human life like another line in the balance sheet, like the cost of raw materials or energy. The ETUC is calling on the European Commission agree legally binding exposure limits for 50 of the most harmful chemicals.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cThe Vice President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans recently said that better regulation does not mean deregulation and lowering standards* so I hope he is willing to take action to protect workers from cancer.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
To mark International Workers\u2019 Memorial Day on April 28:<\/p>\n
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- ETUC General Secretary Bernadette S\u00e9gol will be in the European Parliament in Strasbourg to meet President Schulz and European Employment Commissioner Thyssen amongst others<\/li>\n
- ETUC and Belgian trade unions will be at the entrance of the\u00a0 European Commission\u2019s Berlaymont HQ in Brussels at 12.30, following an 11.00 meeting with Belgian Vice Prime Minister Kris Peeters.<\/li>\n
- ETUC Deputy General Secretary J\u00f3zef Niemiec will meet the Latvian EU Presidency with Latvian trade unions and European trade union health and safety experts at a health and safety conference in Riga.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
For more information see:\u00a0http:\/\/www.etuc.org\/international-workers-memorial-day-28-april-2015<\/a>\u00a0 &\u00a0https:\/\/28april.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n