60 Amendments of Siôn SIMON related to 2017/2277(INI)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 (new)
Citation -1 (new)
-1 having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 a (new)
Citation -1 a (new)
-1a having regard to the European Charter of Fundamental Rights (2012/C 326/02),
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 b (new)
Citation -1 b (new)
-1b having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106),
Amendment 4 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 c (new)
Citation -1 c (new)
-1c having regard to the Interinstitutional Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights,
Amendment 5 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 d (new)
Citation -1 d (new)
-1d having regard to the European Social Charter of 3 May 1996,
Amendment 6 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 e (new)
Citation -1 e (new)
-1e having regard to its resolution of 15 September 2016 on Application of the Employment Equality Directive,
Amendment 7 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation -1 f (new)
Citation -1 f (new)
-1f having regard to the European Chronic Disease Alliance’s joint statement on “Improving the employment of people with chronic diseases in Europe” (2017),
Amendment 11 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 b (new)
Citation 5 b (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 25 November 2015 on the EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2014-2020,
Amendment 15 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3 a (new)
Citation 3 a (new)
- having regard to the Declaration of Philadelphia of 10 May 1944 on the goals and objectives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO),
Amendment 16 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 a (new)
Citation 5 a (new)
- having regard to its resolution of 23 May 2007 on promoting decent work for all1a, __________________ 1a OJ C 102 E, 24.4.2008, p. 321.
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 c (new)
Citation 5 c (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication on a ‘Renewed social agenda: Opportunities, access and solidarity in 21st century Europe’ (COM(2008)0412),
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 d (new)
Citation 5 d (new)
- having regard to the Commission report on the implementation of the European social partners’ Framework Agreement on Work-related Stress (SEC(2011)0241),
Amendment 19 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 e (new)
Citation 5 e (new)
- having regard to the Commission communication on ‘Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007-2012 on health and safety at work’(COM(2007)0062),
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 f (new)
Citation 5 f (new)
- having regard to Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation,
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 5 g (new)
Citation 5 g (new)
- having regard to the anti- discrimination directive 2000/78/EC and ECJ case law such as ECJ 11 April 2013, Joined Cases C-335/11 and C-337/11 (HK Danmark), which together establish the prohibition for employers to discriminate when a long term ill health can be assimilated to handicap, as well as the obligation for employers to make reasonable adaptations to working conditions,
Amendment 22 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 a (new)
Citation 6 a (new)
- having regard to the Joint Action on Mental Health and Well-being launched in 2013,
Amendment 24 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6 b (new)
Citation 6 b (new)
- having regard to the EU-OSHA’s current campaign entitled ‘Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress’,
Amendment 29 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
Amendment 32 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
Ab. whereas the availability and comparability of data on occupational diseases at EU-level is deficient1a; __________________ 1aReport on the current situation in relation to occupational diseases systems in EU Member States and EFTA/EEA countries, EC (2013).
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A c (new)
Recital A c (new)
Ac. whereas according to Eurofound’s Third European Quality of Life Survey 2001–2012, roughly 28% of Europeans report having a chronic physical or mental health problem, illness or disability; whereas 1 in 4 people of working age (15-64) are estimated to live with longstanding health problems that restrict their daily activities1a; whereas 350 million working days are lost in the European Union each year due to work- related health problems;1b __________________ 1a https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observa tories/eurwork/comparative- information/employment-opportunities- for-people-with-chronic-diseases 1bhttp://www.enwhp.org/fileadmin/rs- dokumente/dateien/Hearts_Minds- Summary.pdf
Amendment 34 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A d (new)
Recital A d (new)
Ad. whereas work-related stress in particular, and psychosocial risks in general, are a growing problem for employees and employers across the EU and almost half of all workers consider it to be present at their workplace; whereas work-related stress is the second most frequently reported work-related health problem in Europe; whereas work-related stress contributes to absenteeism, negatively impacts productivity and accounts for almost half the number of working days lost each year; whereas actions taken to manage psychosocial risks vary across the Member States;1a __________________ 1aSecond European Survey of Enterprises on New and Emerging Risks (ESENER- 2), EU-OSHA (2015)
Amendment 35 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A e (new)
Recital A e (new)
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas smoking, alcohol and drug abuse are amongst the most significant health risk factors for the working age population in the EU, linked with both injuries and various non- communicable diseases1a; whereas 20 to 25% of all workplace accidents involve people under the influence of alcohol1b and it is estimated that between 5 % and 20 % of the working population in Europe have serious problems related to their use of alcohol;1c whereas the reintegration of workers who have suffered from substance abuse problems into quality employment presents specific challenges for employers; __________________ 1a Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (2016) GBD Compare Data Visualization. http:// vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-compare 1bScience Group of the European Alcohol and Health Forum (2011) Alcohol, Work and Productivity. https://ec.europa.eu/health//sites/health/fil es/alcohol/docs/science_02_en.pdf 1cEurofound (2012) Use of alcohol and drugs at the workplace. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/sites/def ault/files/ef_files/docs/ewco/tn1111013s/tn 1111013s.pdf
Amendment 43 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the reintegration of workers into labour markets is also deeply interconnected withrecovering from injury or illness into quality employment is an increasingly important issue given the rising incidence of chronic diseases, disabilities and mental health disorderproblems, as well as injuries and illnesses;
Amendment 45 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas a study in 2013 demonstrated that 21.8% of cancer patients aged 18-57 years old became unemployed right after being diagnosed, with 91.6% of this group becoming unemployed 15 months after diagnosis; whereas this patient group experienced a waiting period six months longer than average before being employed again;1a __________________ 1aSource: data from national study conducted in France in 2013 (the VICAN 2), reported in European Guide on Quality Improvement in Comprehensive Cancer Control, Chapter 7 Survivorship and rehabilitation. CanCon Joint Action.2017. https://cancercontrol.eu/archived/uploads/ images/Guide/pdf/CanCon_Guide_FINA L_Web.pdf
Amendment 47 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas a 2011 Eurostat study found that only 5.2% of employed people who are limited in their work capabilities because of a longstanding health problem and/or a basic activity difficulty report to use special working arrangements, while 24.2% of the non-employed ones specify that those would be needed to return to work1a; __________________ 1a Source: Eurostat, 2011 LFS ad hoc module (hlth_dlm190)
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas the adoption of appropriate and individually tailored approaches towards the reintegration of people recovering from injury or illness into quality employment is an important factor in preventing additional absenteeism or sickness presenteeism, both of which put additional strain on the individual employee, the productivity of the enterprise, as well as the national social security system;
Amendment 51 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas work plays an important role in facilitating the recovery and rehabilitation process given the important positive psycho-social benefits work brings to the employee, particularly for those suffering from mental health problems;
Amendment 56 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas good occupational safety and health practices are crucial for a productive and motivated workforce, which helps companies remain competitive and innovative and helps to maintain valuable skills and work experience, reduce staff turnover and prevent exclusion, accident and injury;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas the improved health and reintegration of workers is a fundamental individual right as contained within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; whereas work increases the overall wellbeing of society, has economic benefits to Member States, employees and employers and helps to retain skills that would otherwise be lost;
Amendment 80 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Stresses the importance of investing more in risk-prevention policies as well as promoting, developing and supporting a culture of prevention as regards health and safety at work; points out that the quality of preventive services is key to supporting companies, in particular SMEs, to carry out risk assessment and take adequate preventive measures; calls on the Commission to examine the tasks and training requirements of preventive services laid down in national legislation by the Member States;
Amendment 81 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph -1 a (new)
Paragraph -1 a (new)
-1a. Calls on the Member States to implement effective policy and regulatory action on tobacco, healthy diets, alcohol consumption and air quality and to promote such policies at the workplace; further calls on Member States to develop integrated health services with social, psychological, work services and occupational medicine;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Considers that there is a strong case forn urgent need to tackle discrimination and prejudices against employees who are at the early stages of their diagnosis through better enforcement of the anti- discrimination directive 2000/78/EC, as well as improving the management of sickness absence by employers in the Member States as well as fornd to makinge workplaces more adaptable to chronic conditions and disabilities;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Takes the view that the forthcoming EU Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work post 2020 should further prioritise investments through EU funds aimed at prolonging healthier working lives and supporting recruitment and return to work, where desired and where medical conditions allow, of all people recovering from illness or injury into quality employment; further considers that an integral part of this strategy should be to invest in both primary and secondary preventative mechanisms, through the provision of e-health technologies, such as discrete blood glucose monitors, allowing patients and healthcare professionals to monitor and effectively manage their condition and avoid co- morbidities in the long run;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Stresses the valuable role trade unions play in the reintegration of workers recovering from injury and illness into quality employment; calls on employers to work with trade unions to ensure support is in place for the represented workers from the very early stages of diagnosis; notes that such measures play an important role in preventing psychosocial problems for the employee later on in their diagnosis;
Amendment 98 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Encourages Member States to engage fully in the forthcoming 2020-2022 EU-wide campaign on the prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and to find innovative non- legislative solutions; calls for the active involvement, reiterates the European Parliament’s call for the Commission to take action on some of the most prevalent work-related health problems in Europe and submit without delay a proposal for a comprehensive legal instrument on MSDs and stress-related diseases; calls ofn the Member States in the dissemination of information provided by the EU-OSHAand employers to take a proactive role in integrating the information provided by the EU-OSHA into their workplace policies and programmes;
Amendment 104 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Calls on the Member States to conduct studies, broken down by gender, age and area of economic activity, into the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders among the working population at national level, with a view to preventing and combating the emergence of these disorders;
Amendment 107 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Takes the view that implementing measures forsystemic psychosocial risk prevention in a systematic way should bes a crucial feature of modern workplaces; calls on the Member States to provide support to businesses in managing these risknotes with concern the rise in reported cases of mental health and psychosocial problems over recent years, calls on the Member States to provide support to businesses in implementing a coherent set of workplace policies and programmes to enhance prevention of these problems, tackle mental health stigma, and support to employees facing existing conditions;
Amendment 114 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Stresses the importance of updating and providing common health indicators and definitions of work-related diseases, including stress at work, and EU-wide statistical data with a view to setting targets to reduce the incidence of occupational diseases;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 b (new)
Paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. Recognises that people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, like all other individuals, retain the fundamental right to work; further recognises that people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness face a unique set of challenges relating to their employment situation that is distinct from the challenges facing other patient groups, as they often have little time to adapt to their changing conditions and for any workplace adjustments to be made; notes with concern the cases of the unfair dismissal of terminally ill employees as highlighted by the Dying to Work campaign1a; calls upon the Commission and Member States to introduce additional employment protections for terminally ill people, for example through providing such employees with a “protected” employment status under EU law, similar to that which is contained within the Pregnant Workers Directive; __________________ 1a https://www.dyingtowork.co.uk/
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 c (new)
Paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. Recognises that the reintegration of workers who have suffered from substance abuse problems presents specific challenges for employers; notes in this regard the example of the Alna model run by the Swedish social partners1a to support workplaces in taking proactive and early intervention measures as well as in assisting the rehabilitation process for employees who have had problems connected to substance abuse; __________________ 1a http://www.alna.se/in-english
Amendment 119 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Paragraph 4 d (new)
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 e (new)
Paragraph 4 e (new)
4e. Calls upon the Commission, Member States and employers to give special consideration to the employment implications for care-givers; fully supports the European Commission’s legislative proposal to introduce a harmonised minimum 5 days of paid leave per year for carers across the EU;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 f (new)
Paragraph 4 f (new)
4f. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and implement a programme for systematic monitoring, managing and support for workers affected by psychosocial risks, including stress, depression and burnout in order to, inter alia, draw up effective recommendations and guidelines to fight these risks; emphasises that stress at work is recognised as a major obstacle to productivity and to the quality of life; notes in this regard that mental health and psychosocial risks can be influenced by many factors, not all of them being work-related; points out, however, that psychosocial risks and work-related stress are structural problems linked to work organisation and that preventing and managing psychosocial risks and work- related stress is possible; stresses the need to carry out studies, improve prevention and consider new measures based on the sharing of best practices and tools for reintegration in the labour market;
Amendment 122 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 g (new)
Paragraph 4 g (new)
4g. Welcomes the Healthy Workplaces Manage Stress campaign; emphasises that initiatives for tackling work-related stress must include the gender dimension taking into accounts specific working conditions for women;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Recognises that work is an important source of positive psychosocial wellbeing for individuals, and often an important part of that person’s identity; further recognises that the integration of long-term unemployed individuals into employment through individually tailored measures is a key factor for fighting poverty and social exclusion and also has other preventative psychosocial benefits; stresses that integrating persons returning to work after illness has a doublmany positive effects: benefiting the individual, taking additional burden away from the national social security system and the individual enterprises, as well as supporting the economy more widely;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13a. Draws the attention of the Commission to the increased number of workers affected by chronic illness in the workforce; takes the view that accessible, safe and quality employment should be available for people affected by terminal illnesses, chronic and long-term conditions and disability; urges the Member States to focus on retention and integration of people affected by chronic diseases as well as to support reasonable adaptation of workplaces, which will ensure a timely return to work; calls on the Commission to promote integration and rehabilitation measures for people with disabilities and to support Member States’ efforts by raising awareness and identifying and sharing good practices on accommodations and adjustments in the workplace; urges Eurofound to further examine and analyse the employment opportunities and the degree of employability of people with chronic diseases;
Amendment 141 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Takes the view that the Member Stateployers should take a positive and work- oriented approach to workers with disabilities, older workers and those who have suffered an mental or physical illness, including people diagnosed with terminal illness, focusing on early evaluation of the individual’s remaining capabilitiescapacity to work and the adaptation of the workplace, taking into account the person’s occupational profile and socio-economic situation; encourages Member States to improve provisions in their social security systems that would favour the system ofa swift return to work; provided it is desired by employee and if medical conditions allow;
Amendment 153 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Encourages in this regard thereference to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106), and use of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) across all relevant measures and policies; shares the view that disability is a health experience that occurs in a socio-economic context; takes the view that ICF is best suited for EU-wide statistical comparison;
Amendment 156 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to develop and provide guidelines on best practices and coaching to employers on how to develop and implement reintegration plans, ensuring a continued dialogue between employer, employee and trade union throughout the return-to-work process, and ensuring that employees are made aware of their rights from the beginning of this process; further encourages the exchange of good practice within and between Member States, regions and employers about identification, treatment and reintegration strategies for workers recovering from illness or injury into quality employment, specifically around processes for adapting workplace arrangements and facilities to the needs of the individual returning to work;
Amendment 164 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Member States to provideAcknowledges the importance of taking into account the situation, specific needs and difficulties with compliance by micro and small exnternal support to ensure guidance and technicaprises as well as certain public service sectors in the context of the implementation of measures at company level; stresses that awareness raising, exchange of good practices, consultation, and online platforms are of utmost importance to help SMEs and micro enterprises in this process; calls on the Commission and Member States to continue developing practical tools and guidelines, which will support for small and micro-enterprises with limited experience in occupational rehabilitation and return-to-work measures;
Amendment 173 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Stresses the key importance of communication and a multidisciplinary and cooperativen integrated approach between all stakeholders (workers, medical doctors, social services, trade unions, employers) for the successful physical and occupational rehabilitation of workers; lauds the success of the non- bureaucratic and practical approach of the Austrian fit2work programme with its emphasis on easy communication accessible to all workers (such as the use of simplified language);
Amendment 177 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that financial incentives should be in plaStresses the importance tof keeping people with reduced working capacity in employment; if medical conditions allow, strongly encourages the reintegration of workers recovering from illness and injury into quality employment if it is so desired by the employee and if medical conditions allow through re- training and upskilling into the open labour market; further recognises however the importance of a strong safety net in place via the national social security system for individuals who are unable to return to employment;
Amendment 185 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Calls on Member States to introduce policy frameworks including incentives for employers and active labour market policies to support the integration into quality employment of persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses, including the breaking down of barriers in the workplace; as well as people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, including ensuring proper compliance with the principle of non-discrimination in the workplace and making suitable adaptations to facilitate the reintegration of workers recovering from illness and injury into quality employment;
Amendment 194 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recognises in this regard that flexible working arrangements, such as telework, flexitime and reduced working hours,individually tailored workplace solutions play an important role in returning to work; stresses the importance of encouraging early return to work (if medical conditions allow) through flexible working arrangements and reduceround working time arrangementshours and workload, which could be accompanied by partial sickness benefit;
Amendment 198 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15 a (new)
Paragraph 15 a (new)
15a. Commends national programmes and initiatives which have helped to facilitate the reintegration into quality employment of people with chronic diseases, such as the German programme “Job4000”1a which uses an integrated approach to improve the stable professional integration of persons with severe disability and particular difficulties to find a job; or the establishment of reintegration agencies to help people with chronic diseases find a job that is suited to their situation and abilities;1b __________________ 1aSource: Pathways project deliverable 5.2 “Scoping Paper on the Available Evidence on the Effectiveness of Existing Integration and Re-Integration into Work Strategies for Persons with Chronic Conditions” 1bSource: Return to work coaching services for people with a chronic disease by certified “experts by experience”: the Netherlands. Case Study. EU-OSHA
Amendment 207 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure in their communications, guidelines and policies that employers see the reintegration process as an opportunity to recoverbenefit from workers’ skills, competences and experience; takes the view that employsocial partners are full participants in the return-to-work processintegration of workers recovering from illness or injury into quality employment from the start and are part of the decision- making process;
Amendment 212 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Stresses that raising awareness of occupational rehabilitation and return-to- work policirogrammes and improved company culture are critical success factors in the return-to-work process and fighting negative attitudetackling prejudices and discrimination, particularly towards people with mental health problems, terminal illness, as well as chronic and long-term conditions;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 19
Paragraph 19
19. Calls for better understanding of the challenges and discrimination leading to fewer opportunities for people with health problems, such as a lack of understanding of the health problem, perceived low productivity levelrejudices and social stigma;
Amendment 236 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Takes the view that EU-wide campaigns play an important role in shifting popular opinioneducation, changes in company culture, as well as national and EU-wide campaigns such as the Dying to Work campaign to combat discrimination against terminally ill workers, are amongst the most effective ways of shifting popular opinion around the issue of reintegration of workers recovering from injury and illness into quality employment;