Covid-19 to be recognised as an occupational disease
On 18 May 2022, Member States and social partners sitting on the EU Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) reached an agreement on the need to recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease in the health and social care and the domiciliary assistance sectors, and – in a pandemic context – in sectors where there is an outbreak in activities with proven risk of infection (see press release).
EU Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, said: “Based on this agreement, the Commission will update its Recommendation of 19 September 2003 on occupational diseases to promote the recognition of Covid-19 as an occupational disease by all Member States.” Such recognition will allow employees in the sectors concerned, who have contracted this disease at their workplace – and especially long Covid – to acquire specific rights based on national rules, such as an entitlement to compensation on more favourable terms than those applicable to diseases unrelated to work.
Even if many countries have already taken this step, this recommendation should lead to better harmonisation. The European trade-union federation EPSU has welcomed this decision, for which its member unions have been campaigning (see press release).
(Article published in IR Notes 187 – 1st June 2022)
