Safety and health at work in the context of the new forms of work, the topic of the international conference organized today at the Palace of the Parliament - Hoofdinhoud
Today, the Minister of Labour and Social Justice, Marius Budăi, opened the Conference on the topic ”Safety and health at work in the context of the new forms of work. Experiences and good practices in the Member States”, an event bringing together, in Bucharest, representatives of EU i ministries of labour, of the European Commission and of other relevant organizations, in the context of Romania holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Conference held at the Palace of the Parliament offered to the European officials the opportunity to discuss about the main changes taking place on the labour market and how they can be optimized for the benefit of all those involved - workers, enterprises, society as a whole.
In his opening speech, Minister Marius Budăi told those present that he was extremely proud that, during the first 3 months of mandate, the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union advanced legislative files vital for the European workers, which will lead to better and safe working conditions, to a fair labour mobility or which will facilitate the work-life balance and will promote equal treatment between women and men.
Marius Budăi talked about the significant changes registered on the labour market as a result of the aging process of the workforce, of the technological progress (digitalisation, automation and robotics or the use of the nanotechnology), the diversification of forms of employment and of the emergence of atypical forms of work, which can lead, in some cases, to insecurity of jobs and of incomes or which restrict workers’ access to training and consultation and, therefore, to the increase of occupational risks.
“Anticipating risks and developing preventive actions are essential approaches for the efficient management of occupational risks and for building a preventive culture in the field of occupational safety and health, in an ever changing world”, stated the Minister of Labour in this context.
The Romanian official also pointed out that it is important that governments, employers, workers, and other stakeholders take advantage of the opportunities offered to create a safe and healthy working future for all and that now it is the time for action.
Besides representatives of the line ministries from the EU, today’s conference was attended, among others, by the Director of the Directorate‑General Employment Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission, Zinta Podniece, by the Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) - Christa Sedlatschek, by the Deputy Director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (EUROFOUND) - Erika Mezger, representatives of the Swedish Work Environment Authority, of the National Institute of Occupational Health in Norway, of the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Germany (BAuA), of the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs of France and of European Trade Union Institute.
The event in the Palace of the Parliament was co-financed through the European Programme for employment and social innovation (EaSI) 2014-2020.