The EU is about to amend its rules on the protection of workers for the virus causing Covid-19 in the Annexes to Directive 2000/54/EC on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to biological agents at work. But despite the demands of the European trade unions, SARS-CoV-2 is not expected to be classified as one of the agents most at risk. The employers’ body, BusinessEurope, on the other hand, is fully in line with this decision.
There was little doubt over the outcome. However it was no less disappointing for the European trade unions. On 14 May, experts from the Member States chose not to include Sars-CoV-2 in the category of biological agents posing the greatest risk to workers’ health (Group 4). Instead, they supported the European Commission’s proposal, subject to certain leeway, to add this virus to Group 3. Group 3 covers biological agents that can cause severe human disease and present a serious hazard to workers; they may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available.
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