Eurocadres psychosocial risks seminar works towards EU Directive
The second in a series of Eurocadres training seminars on: ‘Psychosocial health risks: professionals and managers in the front line’, took place in Paris on the 20th and 21st of September
The seminar hosted by the Confédération Générale du Travail (UGICT-CGT) focused on clearly defining psychosocial risks (PSR), particularly the specific PSR facing Professionals and Managers and the measures available to prevent or at least lessen PSR in the workplace.
Attendees also worked towards improving the legal protection for workers, when it comes to psychosocial risks, at both the Member State and the EU-level. With the aim being to create an EU-Directive which will protect European workers, as well as supporting Member States initiatives, in this area. The event also aimed to ensure that those attending would be better prepared to engage in employer/management negotiations, regarding psychosocial risk, through practically addressing the pitfalls and challenges, which can arise in these very specific negotiations.
Nayla Glaise of the UGICT-CGT, which hosted the event, commented on the goals of the seminar programme saying: ‘It is important that we end up with new legislation, which protects Europe’s workers from the growing rising dangers of PSR. That is why we need a Directive, which will force employers to take psychosocial risks seriously, which is not always the case, at present’.
‘It is important that we end up with new legislation, which protects Europe’s workers from the growing rising dangers of PSR. That is why we need a Directive'
The trade unionist noted that she hoped the seminars would develop a set of indicators, which would give a clear empirical picture of the psychosocial risk levels in Europe and provide statistical data on the damage it is wreaking across Europe. ‘By gathering factual data based on agreed indicators we will be better able to identify the risk factors and assess what adaptive measure are needed to tackle PSR’.
Meanwhile, Paula Ruiz Torres, Eurocadres Vice President is convinced that a PSR Directive needs to have a gender dimension. She argues that ‘women tend to suffer more from the effects of psychosocial risks. In the age of digitalisation, where there are no limits to the working day and employers aim for ideal workers – those who have no limit to working any time and any day, male professionals and managers will reach higher positions and increase their salary. This will have consequences on their future pensions, because men can devote themselves to their career to a higher extent than women, who still remain largely responsible for the home and the family’. Hence the need for a PSR Directive to take gender inequalities in the workplace into consideration.
The Eurocadres training seminars, ‘can raise awareness that women are not treated equally, not only in terms of salary but also work-wise'.
Ruiz Torres believes that the Eurocadres training seminars, ‘can raise awareness that women are not treated equally, not only in terms of salary but also work-wise, which further raises the risks.
The seminar also set about developing a roadmap and work programme, which would lead not only to the European-wide Directive being adopted by the EU. But would also see better protection for workers enduring PSR at both Member State and company levels.
A third psychosocial risk training workshop will take place in Madrid on the 15th and 16th of November. For more details click HERE