Health and Safety
Executive / Commission
Euronews - April 2007
For more information on those issues currently undergoing the social dialogue process, see below.
It requires the European social partners to be consulted on a range of issues concerning employment and social affairs. Article 138 provides for a compulsory two-stage consultation procedure:
Issue |
Started |
Stage |
Next steps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needle stick injuries | 2006 | 1st stage of consultation began in December 2006 | 2nd stage consultation launch pending |
| Simplification of the practical implementation reporting arrangements for health and safety at work directives. | 2005 | EC published its proposal for a Directive in October 2006 | Draft of proposed Directive to be approved by the European Parliament |
| Violence at the workplace | 2005 | 2nd stage of consultation completed |
Consultation in the final stages |
| Musculoskeletal disorders
|
2004 | 2nd stage of the consultation began in March 2007 | - |
| Carcinogens, mutagens and reprotoxic substances | 2004 | 1st stage complete | 2nd stage consultation launch pending |
To date there have been only two non-legislative social partner agreements at the European level; one on teleworking made in 2002, and the other on stress in 2004.
At each stage, the social partners have six weeks to comment on the consultation. If they decide to take action, by way of a social partner agreement, then this must be developed within nine months of agreement.
For more information on this process and access to all consultation documents, see the European Commission's website on social dialogue.