Friday

29th Mar 2024

MEPs square up over sunlight directive

Following a heated debate on Tuesday (6 September) over common EU standards for protecting workers from sunlight, MEPs look set to water down the original proposal and leave it up to member states to decide if such measures are needed.

The vote on the directive, which has sparked lurid headlines across the EU with German papers speculating about Bavarian barmaids having to change their traditional dress to British papers mocking its consequences for bare-backed builders, will take place on Wednesday.

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The proposed directive is part of a health and safety legislative package and covers protection from artificial sources of optical radiation – like lasers, and from natural sources – sunlight.

If accepted, it would require employers to evaluate the risks their employees are undertaking when exposed to sun at work, and if needed, take action to address the risks.

The idea has sparked huge criticism among some deputies and industry lobbies who argue that diverse climate conditions across the continent make it impossible to address the problem at the EU level.

On the other hand, supporters of the legislation suggest it is in line with the general principle of workers’ protection promoted by the bloc and that excessive sunlight – potentially causing skin cancer – should be no exemption.

Lively debate

Both camps addressed the forum at the Strasbourg plenary on Tuesday.

British conservative MEP Philip Bushill-Matthews, argued the legislation – as proposed by the commission and supported by the member states – would lead to more red tape, and particularly impact businesses involved in agriculture, construction or tourism.

"People do not want politicians to protect them from sunlight; increasingly, people simply want to be protected from politicians", he said.

Liberals also support the centre-right parliamentary group in its call for either complete exclusion of sunlight from the directive – with its provisions applying only for artificial sources of radiation – or leaving it up to national governments to deal with the issue.

"It would bring the EU into further disrepute if we legislate against the sun in the workplace", suggested the liberal deputy Elizabeth Lynne, adding the proposal would also lead to a "legal nightmare", as it is hard to prove whether a worker gets skin cancer while he is in the workplace or on holiday.

On the other hand, socialist and green MEPs accused some of their parliamentary colleagues of conducting a misleading and sensational campaign against the directive.

"Our work on this proposal is presented as an attempt to force citizens to carry umbrellas. This is absolute nonsense", said the Socialist MEP Stephen Hughes.

Instead, the law would ensure that "where the employer finds a risk associated with natural radiation, information will be provided to workers. In the vast majority of modern occupational settings, there will be no risk", he argued.

Committee's proposal likely to get the green light

The bill - to be voted on 7 September - is in its second reading, so MEPs need an absolute majority to adopt any amendment to it.

It is not expected that deputies will reject the directive as a whole, as most of them agree that the workplace provisions on protection from artificial radiation are important.

So, the question remains if those opposing the inclusion of "natural radiation" in the proposal will back up a compromise version adopted by the social affairs committee, which leaves it up to member states to define employers' obligations regarding the protection of their employees from sunlight.

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