Social Dialogue in OSH:
EU and the Nordic
countries
Wiking Husberg
ILO Consultant
MinSocAffairs&Health, Finland
EU binding OSH
Directives
• The Council
Directive
89/391/EEC
• + 18
individual
directives
• mandatory
transfer to
national
legislation
IMPLEMENTATION :
The Crucial Role of Dialogue
In all levels of the OHS legislation
* Information, Consultation and Participation of
Workers and Employers
* Social Dialogue – EU/national level
* Workers H&S Reps and OSH Officer at enterprise
EU Social dialogue
Constitutional background, Art. 138-139 EC
Treaty
TThe
he Social Dialogue
under Articles 138 and 139
COMMISSION
proposal in the
social policy field
if Community action
is desirable
where appropriate,
Commission follow-up
where appropriate,
Commission follow-up
SOCIAL PARTNERS
consultation
on possible direction
opinion
consultation on the content
of the envisaged proposal
opinion or recommendation
or wish to initiate,
independently, a process of
negotiation
negotiation 9 months
failure
agreement
joint request
Council decision and
EU Directive in matter
covered by 137
by qualified majority
by unanimity (137-2)
Implementation in
accordance with procedures
and practices specific
to management and labour
Advisory Committee on Safety
and Health at Work ACSH
SCOPE OF CONSULTATIONS
The tri-partite ACSH is consulted on the EC initiatives,
which relate to OSH. It prepares tri-partite opinions on
draft directives, methodologies, EU OSH strategy, etc.
It has 12 Working Parties (also tri-partite) focusing of
various OSH issues, such as education and training,
standardisation, sub-contracting, etc.
Additionally, the social partners develop industry sector
agreements on OSH (ergonomics, hairdressers).
Cooperation with SLIC Senior Labour Inspectors’ Committee and OSHA
European Agency for Safety and
Health at Work EU OSHA in Bilbao
 Collect and disseminate information in the Member States
 Promote and support cooperation/exchange amongst the MS
 Organize conferences/seminars and exchanges of experts
 Supply the EU bodies and the Member States with information
 Establish and coordinate the network
 Collect and make available information from and to third
countries
and international organizations
 Provide information on methods/tools for implementing
prevention
 Contribute to the development of EU action programmes
EU OSH legislation
Strategy and implementation
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New OSH strategy
Tri-partite and industry consultations
Social dialogue now a natural element
Need to improve communication to the
national level
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Limited resources
From inspection to cooperation
Lack of awareness
Missing economic incentives
Inadequate infrastructure
EU OSH legislation
EU OSH Strategy 2013-2020
OSH at the national level
ILO C 187
National OSH Policy
National OSH System
National OSH Profile
National OSH Programme
Finland
Finnish approaches and activities for improving well-being at work (OSH)
Approaches
Advanced strategies on OSH
Clear and updated legislation on OSH
Well focused development programmes
Good and open networking and collaboration
Effective safety inspection and supervision
High level occupational health care systems and services
Sufficient research resources and funds in OSH
Relevant focusing of research
Continuous and effective communication
Decent management systems
Well-being at work
Work motivation
Productivity
Quality of services
Losses
Life long work careers
Enterprise level productivity
National economy
Policies for the work environment
and well-being at work until 2020
• The number of occupational
diseases decreases by 10%
• The frequency of workplace
accidents is reduced by 25%
• Work-related harmful strain is
reduced:
– Perceived physical strain is
reduced by 20%
– Perceived psychic strain is
reduced by 20%
• Prolong work career with 3
more years
Social dialogue on national level
- Finland
• Tri-partite national council for OSH legislation
– sub-groups
– ad-hoc groups
• Tri-partite advisory committee for EU issues
• Written consultations to social partners,
expert organosations, NGOs
• Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
• Parliament
– specialised committees
Management system approach
National level
Enterprise level
National OSH Council
(3-partite)
OSH Committee (bi-partite)
National OSH Policy
OSH policy within an
enterprise
National OSH System
Organizational OSH structure
National OSH Programme
OSH MS
Programme review
Audit of OSH MS
Formulating new NOSHP for
continual improvement
Taking action for continual
improvement
Safety committee - Finland
Five regional Labour Inspectorates
(Occupational Safety and Health)
Northern Finland
Western and Inland Finland
Eastern Finland
Southwestern Finland
Southern Finland
Social dialogue in Labour Inspection
• Tri-partite national OSH council
• Tri-partite regional advisory councils in
each region
• Enterprise inspection
– LI to involve both employer and workers in
discussions and shop floor inspection
– review work of the safety committee
– LI report to be sent to both employer and
workers
DWT/CO Moscow
www.ilo.ru