Press area
Change low graphic options |
Skip content to navigation
Page context: ETF Home > Press area
Working Time Directive must protect people and environment
26 March 2010
On Wednesday 24 March, the European Commission invited the European social partners to express their opinions on the revision of the Working Time Directive (2003/88/EC). The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) states that the health and safety of workers, the safety of the public and the protection of the environment must be considered as a priority when revising the working time rules.
The ETF Deputy General Secretary, Sabine Trier: “Scientific evidence shows that fatigue is caused by long working hours and increases the risk of accidents, also in transport. As a result, a WTD that allows long and irregular working hours not only puts the health and safety of the transport workers in danger but also has a direct impact on the safety of the passengers for example in public transport. Accidents with river vessels or freight trains transporting dangerous goods can cause extensive damages to the environment.”
The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) asks for proposals from the European Commission that stimulate modern, sustainable and negotiated solutions, taking into account the needs of businesses and workers in a balanced way. John Monks, ETUC General Secretary, stated in the ETUC press release of 24 March: “There is a clear link between long and irregular working hours and increased work-related health problems. Protection of the health and safety of workers must remain the primary goal of any review of the working time directive. This is of crucial importance for all workers, but in particular where workers in the performance of their jobs can affect the lives of third parties, for instance in healthcare professions or transport.”
The ETUC and its member organisations will thoroughly examine and discuss the Communication of the Commission, but expect a further input from the Commission as regards the current implementation of the WTD in order to properly judge the need for revision. European Social Partners contributed in recent years to the Commission’s Report on the State of Implementation of the WTD and demands the Commissioner Andor to make this report immediately available to the Social Partner.
For further information, please contact ETF deputy General Secretary, Sabine Trier (Tel: +32 (0)2 285 46 67; s.trier@etf-europe.org)
ENDS
Related documents:
ETF Press Release - Working Time Directive must protect people and environment (44kb PDF)
Back to current press releases
Section home:
Press area
Main Sections:
ETF Home | Civil aviation | Dockers | Fisheries | Inland Waterways | Logistics | Maritime Transport | Railways | Road transport | Tourism | Urban Public Transport | Projects
Gender Equality | EWCs
About us/contact | Vacancies | News online
Press area | Document library | Links |
Full graphics version
accessibility | site help | site map
Galerie AGORA, Rue du Marché aux Herbes 105, Boîte 11 B - 1000 Bruxelles | +32 2 285 46 60 | etf@etf-europe.org
