Debate: Mental health at work
Date: WEDNESDAY, 18 OCTOBER 2023
Speaker: Dragoş Pîslaru
Country: Spain
Language: EN

We have seen that we already have profound implications for occupational safety and health, including for mental health at work. Our workers who suffer from mental health problems at work is growing. EU-OSHA reports that 45% of employed persons are exposed to risk factors that can adversely affect mental well-being. This means that almost half of our working people are facing difficulties. Of course, this has been exacerbated by the COVID pandemic. This discussion is extending to broader implications of work-related stress and psychological risk. These consequences can result in adverse factors, such as diminished job satisfaction, increased conflicts, decreased productivity, burnout, absenteeism and high turnover rates. The labour market as a whole is affected, and we are right now in a situation where we need a functional labour market. We have an important shortage in terms of skills, an important mismatch. We need to address accordingly the needs of the labour market. Parliament’s recent research shows significant cross-country disparities in the exposure of workers to psychosocial risk factors, and in the ways Member States are addressing these issues. It is clear that we have unequal legal protection for workers and access to preventive care of good quality across the EU. So the question is: what can we do to address these challenges? On 7 June, the Commission presented a communication on a comprehensive approach to mental health that recognises the impact of work environments on workers’ health. The initiative is a long-awaited starting point to address mental health. However, we have to be more ambitious. Given all the above, the Employment and Social Affairs Committee and the European Parliament as such are inquiring, first, which legislative actions will the Commission undertake to reduce harmful psychosocial risk factors at work? Second, if the social partners do not find an agreement, will the Commission commit with the legislation to establish minimum requirements for teleworking and ensure the right to disconnect for workers? This is a Parliament initiative. This is very important for us and for the European citizens, and we need to be sure that there will be a follow-up from the Commission on that. Third, will the Commission consider the following legislative actions or initiatives? For example, a legislative framework specifically aimed at preventing and addressing psychosocial risks to safeguard mental health in the workplace for all workers across the EU. As well, a very important legislative initiative may be on AI in the workplace to ensure appropriate protection of workers rights and well-being. Certainly we should actually have a debate about the revision of the Framework Directive that dates from 1989, to take into account the new developments of the labour market, characterised by increased psychosocial risk, fragmented workplaces and work organisation changes. There are also non-legislative actions and very important actions that the Commission may do, and the Parliament is therefore asking what are such initiatives? First, to promote a collective approach that includes the social partners and robust collective bargaining agreements to prevent mental disorders at work, and to update the 2003 recommendation on the European schedule of occupational diseases to include mental-health issues such as depression, burnout, anxiety, and stress. We need this recommendation; we need to transform it maybe into a directive that specifies a basic list of occupational diseases and sets out minimum requirements for their recognition and compensation criteria. We are right now at the end of this legislature. We still have a couple of months. What is important for Parliament is to leave a legacy and have this important input for the future work programme of the Commission. Therefore, this is why we have this oral question that we would like to address on this very important issue of mental health at work. I would like to conclude by calling for more ambition to keep our workers’ mental health safe and ensure digital and technological progress that is mostly bringing benefits to the EU.