92001E3049

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3049/01

by Alexandros Alavanos (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(5 November 2001)

Subject: Controls on the health and safety of workers

In its reply to my question E-0906/01(1) on controls on the improvement of the health and safety of workers the Commission provided a table showing that Greece has made the least effort to carry out inspections and had imposed penalties on 55 undertakings.

Since the issue remains a serious one and controls are still inadequate, will the Commission say:

1. What charges have been brought against the above undertakings? Have penalties actually been imposed and, if so, what kind of penalties?

2. What measures does the Commission intend to take to increase inspections in Greece and to make them more substantial?

(1) OJ C 340 E, 4.12.2001, p. 119.

Joint answerto Written Questions E-3049/01 and E-3050/01given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(6 December 2001)

The Commission would like to emphasise that such a complex question as the functioning of a system of adequate controls and supervision, which the Member States must implement in accordance with Article 4(2) of Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work(1), cannot be resolved without full and detailed information concerning the alleged problems in the operation of the Greek system of controls and supervision.

The Commission therefore wrote to the Greek Government asking for information concerning the implementation of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work. The Greek Government provided some information in response, but further information is needed to enable the Commission to check the functioning of the Greek authorities' system of controls and supervision. A second letter explaining this was sent to the Greek Government on 2 August 2001. The information requested included statistics on the number of legal proceedings in the area of health and safety at work and the penalties imposed, further information on the working methods of the labour inspectorate (for example how the companies to be inspected are selected, how the inspections are carried out, whether there is a follow-up system relating to inspections and measures taken following the inspections, etc.) and a detailed description of internal controls within the labour inspectorate. The Honourable Member's questions concerning the charges brought against the undertakings and the penalties imposed are included in the information requested by the Commission in this letter to the Greek authorities.

A reply dated 9 November 2001 was received, which the Commission is currently analysing. The Commission will ensure that the appropriate measures are taken in accordance with the results of this analysis.

The complainant has been informed of the developments in this matter by letter dated 1 August 2001, to which the Honourable Member refers. This letter also invited the complainant to pass on any further information available.

(1) OJ L 183, 29.6.1989.