Joint Response to the new Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021-2027
On 28 June 2021, the European Commission published its new Strategic Framework on Health and Safety at Work 2021 – 2027 with the overarching aims to anticipate and manage change, prevent work-related accidents and illnesses, and increase preparedness against future crises.
Although concrete details on the proposed actions are yet to be seen and the Strategy mainly proposed non-binding initiatives, the European Alliance for Mental Health, Employment & Work (EU MH Alliance) welcomes the Strategy as a first step and commitment from the European Commission to further improve occupation health and address new challenges concerning digitalisation and teleworking, mental health of workers, inequalities and discrimination, as well as better prepare the world of work for future crises. While it is encouraging to see important progress in bringing down occupational illnesses, accidents and injuries, new changing realities of work mean related psycho-social risk factors will more than ever need to be addressed in an adequate and timely manner.