Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2005-02-23-Speech-3-343"
| Predicate | Value (sorted: default) |
|---|---|
| rdf:type | |
| dcterms:Date | |
| dcterms:Is Part Of | |
| dcterms:Language | |
| lpv:document identification number |
"en.20050223.20.3-343"2
|
| lpv:hasSubsequent | |
| lpv:speaker | |
| lpv:spoken text |
"Mr President, I congratulate Mr Maštálka on a truly excellent report. The rapporteur exposes, in no uncertain terms, the inadequate and unacceptable way in which the Commission has dealt with the issue of health and safety at work over the last few years. He makes concrete and logical suggestions on how to remedy the situation.
The importance of having proper legislation in this field and its effective and speedy implementation is clear. The current situation is totally unsatisfactory and the human cost involved is enormous. Each year in the 25 EU Member States, approximately 400 000 workers become permanently disabled because of a workplace-related accident or disease. Each year it is estimated that about 8 000 people die as a result of work-related accidents or disease. The economic cost is equally vast. It is estimated to be about three to four per cent of GNP.
So why has the Commission been so complacent in dealing with this hugely important matter? Is it due to mere inadequacy and naivety? Or is it due to excessive pressure from employers, many of whom have not yet managed to comprehend the simple fact that it makes good economic sense to have high standards of health and safety at work? We expect and must insist that we get clear answers from the Commission on this issue. We also expect that the new Commissioner will do his utmost to put right the deficiencies of the past.
I would like to make two suggestions for further consideration. First, more attention should be paid not just to the health of workers in the workplace, but also to their families. Many of the toxic substances that workers are exposed to at work can be carried home, for example by way of their clothing. Second, a publicly-available blacklist of employers with proven bad records for poor hygiene and accidents should be established. Employers with the best health and safety standards should be publicly lauded and suitably rewarded. This way, consumers will be able to know who is worthy of their business support and who is not."@en1
|
| lpv:spokenAs | |
| lpv:unclassifiedMetadata |
Named graphs describing this resource:
The resource appears as object in 2 triples