In November 2008, the Belgian Minister of Employment and Equal Opportunities, Joëlle Milquet, disclosed the main orientations that she plans to give the National Strategy on Health and Safety at Work for the period 2008–2012. Minister Milquet intends to strengthen policies and controls by the labour inspectorate. Furthermore, she aims to raise awareness about work-related diseases, as well as achieving a 25% decrease in accidents at work – in line with EU targets.
Quantifiable targets
In February 2007, the European Commission published a Communication entitled Improving quality and productivity at work: Community strategy 2007–2012 on health and safety at work. The Commission asked in this statement that the Member States should develop their own national strategies related to the European Union objectives and provide quantitative targets.
The European goal is to diminish the incidence rate of accidents at work by 25%. The Belgian plan (in French, 2.8Mb PDF) aims to meet this target by reducing the incidence rate by 5% every year over the next five years. In 2007, about 185,000 occupational accidents occurred in the private sector. Most of the victims were workers in the health sector or providing business services; temporary workers, migrant workers and trainees were also foremost among those experiencing a work-related accident. Since 2000, the amount of work accidents had been constantly declining in Belgium. However, in recent years, this decreasing trend has stopped.
On 27 November 2008, the Belgian Minister of Employment and Equal Opportunities, Joëlle Milquet, published the main orientations that she plans to give the National Strategy on Health and Safety at Work for the period 2008–2012. These are outlined below.
Projects and themes
The occupational health and safety plan emphasises the important role that the employer and management have to play in these policies. It proposes a range of projects to increase the support and commitment of these parties in the prevention of occupational accidents and the promotion of well-being at work. The projects concern the following aspects:
- the role and responsibilities of managers;
- the promotion of corporate social responsibility in the matter;
- the training of managerial staff;
- encouraging internal risk audits;
- health and safety as an issue in job evaluation discussions.
Apart from occupational accidents, Minister Milquet also intends to raise awareness regarding work-related disorders such as musculoskeletal diseases, stress, burn-out and alcoholism.
Groups at risk
The health and safety plan observes that some specific groups at risk deserve special attention. It lists persons working as subcontractors, posted workers, older workers, young people and temporary agency workers. The well-being at work of self-employed people is also specifically mentioned.
A further point of attention is the integration of disabled workers. Greater efforts must be made and changes in work organisation should be established so that more people with disabilities can keep their job or stay at work.
Specific goals
The strategic plan includes the following six practical goals:
- a 25% decrease in accidents at work – in line with the EU target;
- fostering changes in the behaviour of workers by developing a culture of risk prevention;
- improved functioning of corporate risk prevention services, especially information exchange and stricter controls;
- five programmes and 12 projects based on a range of implementation plans;
- deepening the necessary dialogue with the social partners;
- a commitment to follow-up and to evaluate the plan.
Minister Milquet confirmed that her department would launch a comprehensive survey on occupational safety and health as part of the plan. Overall, the minister intends to strengthen policies and controls by the labour inspectorate.
Higher fees for poor performers
Minister Milquet also announced that more stringent measures would be taken against companies with a poor history of work accidents. Those with bad records in a particular economic sector would be fined between €3,000 and €15,000 depending on the size of the company. Furthermore, they will have to pay a higher premium for the increased risk (risque aggravé/verzwaard risico) to the insurance company. The insurer shall use the money to help the company to improve risk prevention measures.
Other provisions in relation to this national strategy on health and safety are in progress and under debate with the Belgian social partners.
Related to the plan, the Belgian federal government also announced, on 23 January 2009, that the benefit for people who have been the victim of an occupational accident will be raised and index-linked or inflation-proofed.
Commentary
Belgium has a well-developed policy framework to tackle problems of health and safety at work. However, it is not always possible to measure the range of provisions and projects. The new plan has the advantage that clear strategies are discerned and that these are part of an integrated programme. Nevertheless, the plan is also ambitious with regard to a series of pending problems in the improvement of well-being at work. Thus, the policy challenge is high.
Guy Van Gyes, Higher Institute for Labour Studies (HIVA), Catholic University of Leuven