The European social partners -ETUC, UNICE, UEAPME and CEEP- signed on  8 October 2004 a framework agreement on work-related stress.

This new European agreement marks a big step forward from the Framework Health and Safety Directive (EC 89/391):

• it acknowledges stress as a common concern of European employers, workers and their representatives;
• it includes work-related stress and its causal factors by name among the risks that should be prevented;
• it lays down a general framework for preventing, eliminating and managing stress factors (stressors), with specific reference to work organization, content and the working environment;
• these factors are detailed through a series of relevant examples that do not constitute a list which could have given rise to errors and omissions;
• the employers’ responsibility is clearly spelled out, while participation and cooperation by workers and their representatives in the practical implementation of measures to reduce stress (i.e., tackling stressors) are an essential part of the draft agreement;
• the agreement is oriented towards action to tackle stress;
• stress that does not stem from the workplace or working conditions is taken into account if it creates stress inside the workplace (“imported stress”).

The timetable for implementation of the agreement and reporting on the actions taken to implement it both go further than the telework agreement.
As far as prevention goes, the unions will need to clarify some aspects of the draft framework agreement when it comes to practical implementation, like:

• pressure on people that may be considered as “positive” in the short-term,
• how to put the focus on collective aspects of the elimination and prevention of work-related stress.

For more information:

•     Framework agreement on work-related stress: an ETUC interpretation guide. 2005.
  
  
  
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  (by Roland Gauthy.TUTB Newsletter, n° 26, December 2004)

See some presentations:

• 
  Roland Gauthy (TUTB)
• 
  Stefan Clauwaert (ETUI)
• 
  Viktor Kempa (TUTB)
• 
  Fergus Whelan (ICTU)
• 
  Lone Jacobsen (LO-DK)
• 
  Salvador Moncada, Clara LLorens  (ISTAS)

• 
  Institute of Occupational Medicine (Edinburgh),The Keil Centre (Edinburgh), 2008
• 
  Health and Safety Executive (UK), 2008
• 
  Health and Safety Executive (UK), 2008
• 
  SPF Emploi,Travail et Concertation sociale (Belgium), 2008
• 
  Reine I., Novo M., Hammarstrom A., BMC Public Health, 2008
• 
  European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), 2008
• Work stress and coronary heart disease:what are the mechanisms?,
  Chandola, T., et al., European Heart Journal, 2008
• 
  INRS (France), 2007
• 
  European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2007
• Raising Awareness of Stress at Work in Developing Countries. A modern hazard in a traditional working environment. Advice to employers and worker representatives
  WHO, 2007

• Belgium:
• Belgium:
• Denmark:
• EU:
• EU:
• France:
• ILO:
• Nordic countries:
• UK:
• USA:

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