Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2004-01-14-Speech-3-314"
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"en.20040114.9.3-314"2
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"Mr President, I must begin by gently drawing attention to what we said in 2001 in the report for which I was responsible. We know that this is a major problem. It is present in all the Member States and probably to approximately the same degree, as indicated by the studies conducted by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
(the Dublin Foundation), which calculated a figure of eight per cent. This may be compared with the figure of four per cent for violence in the workplace and two per cent for sexual harassment. Overall, this type of harassment – outright violence, psychological violence and sexual harassment – is a major problem.
We may also assume that this is a growing problem. Why may we do so? Because there was a clear link between this problem and stress and tension in the workplace. We know how the labour market is changing at present. The labour market is changing, and working conditions have become uncertain. Job security also used to be very important. We now see a change when it comes to the organisation of working life. We have insecurity and less certainty in the workplace, which also means that this problem is probably becoming more serious.
On the earlier occasion, we demanded, firstly, an analysis in the form of a Green Paper providing us with a more detailed picture of the situation and, secondly, possible legislation too, but those were not the only instruments. So imagine, then, our frustration when we now perceive that nothing has happened.
Commissioner, I share your view when you say that it is now important to make contact with both sides of industry. It is also true that it is important to use a wide range of instruments, because the legal instrument is not enough. We probably have to work on issues relating to influence and the organisation of work and to review how matters operate out in the workplace, but we also need legal instruments. Now that measures are to be proposed and implemented to combat violence in the workplace, this is an excellent opportunity also to take account of psychological violence, including harassment, in the workplace. This is an opportunity to do just that. Legal instruments and best practice are required in relation to work organisation issues at European level. Nothing very much has happened at Member State level. In Sweden, we already had legislation, and Belgium has introduced legislation, but otherwise nothing very much has happened. Because this is a Community area, involving health and safety in the workplace, we and the Commission have a responsibility in this area."@en1
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