EndStress.eu campaign reaches the European Parliament

A new draft report on Mental Health in the Digital World of Work, presented to the European Parliament’s employment committee on February 28, includes the call for a directive on work-related psychosocial risks, a central pillar of the Eurocadres and ETUC campaign, EndStress.eu. This is the second parliamentary report that calls on the European Commission to propose legislation, with MEP Marianne Vind’s (DK, S&D) report, A new EU strategic framework on health and safety at work post 2020, already adopted at committee level and set to be voted on in plenary this month.  

Following months of discussions with the report rapporteur Maria Walsh (IE, EPP), and shadow-rapporteurs Kim van Sparrentak (NL, Greens), Estrella Durá Ferrandis (ES, S&D), José Gusmão (PT, The Left) and Jordi Cañas Pérez (ES, RE), Eurocadres and the EndStress platform are hopeful that the report will be adopted both at committee and plenary level – paving the way for sufficient European action. With the initial presentation of the report being well received within the EMPL committee, a consensus is emerging amongst the political groups that more can be done to protect workers.

–The message to the Commission from MEPs is clear:  European workers need strong legislative protection from work organisations that are unfit for the modern age

Reacting to the committee discussion, Eurocadres president Nayla Glaise noted:  

“In the coming weeks we are hopeful that MEPs will adopt two separate reports that call for a directive on work-related psychosocial risks. This is the product of years of campaigning from EndStress platform members, with the past few months in particular involving significant work. Since the creation of the platform, the mental health epidemic has only grown in Europe, with companies failing to deliver adequate conditions for their staff. The message to the Commission from MEPs is clear – European workers need strong legislative protection from work organisations that are unfit for the modern age”.  

Research from the EndStress campaign has shown that 4 in 5 managers express concern about work-related stress, with 60% of all lost working days in Europe can be attributed to work-related stress and psychosocial risk. 61% of female managers throughout the bloc experience sleeping problems, while over half of all workers report that work-related stress is common in their workplace. 

Current regulation is failing European workers. The EndStress platform will continue to work to secure binding legislation against work-related psychosocial risks. You can join the EndStress campaign via email to kevin.flynn@eurocadres.eu. 

The deadline for amendments for Mental Health and the Digital World of Work is set for March 8, with a vote expected in plenary in early April.