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EFBWW News

COVID-19: EFBWW condemns Commission’s decision - workers deserve full protection

15/05/2020

The EFBWW strongly regrets and is very worried with the European Commission decision not to assure workers the highest level of protection from Covid-19.

The EFBWW demands this decision be corrected immediately, taking all prevention activities, programmes and concrete measurements to a level that a category 4 virus deserves.

Today, the Commission and member states’ experts in the so-called Technical Progress Committee decided that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is categorised under the Biological Agents Directive group 3 and not in group 4 as demanded by the European Trade Unions. This has severe negative consequences for workplace health and safety and public health. There is sufficient evidence that the virus presents a high risk of being spread to the community and that there is yet no effective prophylaxis or treatment available.

The EFBWW will inform its affiliates and ask them to lobby on national level to ask legislators to deal with the SARS-CoV-2 virus as it is put in category 4.

COVID-19: EFBWW condemns Commission’s decision - workers deserve full protection

Explanatory note

Comparison of Covid 19 associated health risks with other viral, occupational hazards - Jean-Pierre Unger

LetterWIGsupport classification Covid19 in BAD 12-5-2020