Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-01-14-Speech-3-313"
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"en.20040114.9.3-313"2
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"Commissioner, Mr President, the report on harassment at the workplace was adopted almost three years ago. Anyone who, like Mr Andersson and myself, has concerned themselves with this issue, will have discovered the depths to which people can sink in their dealings with one another. Of all workers in the EU, 8% say that they themselves have been affected by harassment. That is what is officially recorded; the true figure may well be many times higher. The report discusses in depth the causes and effects of bullying and sexual harassment in the workplace and the circumstances that lead to it. The extent to which violence and harassment occur in the workplace amounts to an extremely serious problem. As the report describes, they result in extreme physical and mental stress, to the extent of making people seriously ill. It has an effect even on people’s private lives, is a burden on social security funds and hampers general economic performance. Combating this problem is an extremely difficult undertaking. It will scarcely be possible to come up with a standard definition of the phenomenon. It was the Commission that was given the task of bringing to light other factors that encourage harassment; only when we have a clear picture of the true extent of the problem will we be able to take appropriate action to deal with it.
Is the Commission able to comply with this request within the foreseeable future? It is my conviction that combating harassment at work is a matter for the Member States. The social partners, legislators at national level, educational institutions and associations need especial support in their efforts to combat it. It would make sense for there to be a European publicity campaign to put this problem centre stage and rouse the public in the EU. That might put a stop to their indifference. Harassment, whether sexual or not, is not a trifling offence; it is a crime the war on which must start where the crime is committed. This means that it is doubtful that any European directive would be effective, but can the Commission put forward proposals as to how individual efforts in the Member States might be supported?"@en1
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