News

The EU Commission’s Work Programme 2017 is a disappointment for services trade unions. The Commission fails to commit to more Social Europe. President Juncker and Vice-President Timmermans continue to treat labour issues as secondary, “small” things.

The social partner agreement of the hairdressing sector is not even mentioned.

Despite the legal revision of the agreement text by the employers and unions, the EU Commission is delaying yet again its proposal to the Council to transpose the text into EU law.

‘The Commission could be bettering health and safety protection for over a million workers, most of whom are young women. Instead the Commission puts into question once more the autonomy of the social partners. Despite their claims of better regulation and transparency, the social partners are faced with non-transparent, untimely procedures and no commitment to our involvement in the impact assessment process’ said Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary.

UNI Europa and the European trade union movement call upon President Juncker and the Commission to act for hairdressers in 2017.

It is not acceptable for the EU Commission to not act in favour of a healthier workplace for hairdressers given the significantly higher incidence and prevalence of skin diseases and ailments, musculoskeletal disorders, respiratory affections and high exposure to hazardous and dangerous chemicals contained in cosmetic products.

Oliver Roethig, UNI Europa Regional Secretary, pleads with the EU Commission to: ‘Worker Health & safety cannot be postponed forever. Get the hairdressing agreement adopted in 2017!’

Read an assessment of the Work Programme by the ETUC here