European Trade Union Committee for Education

On the occasion of the International Worker's Memorial Day on 28 April ETUC (European Trade Union Confederation) emphasises the problems caused by toxic chemicals at the workplace. Every year people die because of almost not existing European regulations on toxic substances - they can cause cancer, influence the fertility or affect unborn children in the womb. Nevertheless, the European Commission has postponed the passing of the Directive on Carcinogens or Mutagens at work.

The Directive was presented to the European Commission in October 2013 and would introduce legally binding exposure limits of certain chemicals. The numbers of victims since 2013 are high - 150,000 people have died and numerous have fallen ill – due to substances they were exposed at the workplace. With the campaign ETUC highlights that occupational health and safety cannot be less important than economic growth and financial advantages of companies. Therefore they are organising a commemoration outside of the European Commission in Brussels and a conference on Health and Safety at the Latvian Presidency in Riga.

Furthermore ETUC plans to present a condolence card at a meeting on 28 April between Bernadette Ségol, the ETUC General Secretary, Martin Schulz, the President of the European Parliament, Marianne Thyssen, the EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility and other MEPs in Strasbourg.

ETUCE calls for support to the Campaign to increase the pressure on the European Commission.

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