The general secretaries of the four main European social partners (Confederation of Trades Unions, Ceep, Businesseurope, and Union of Small and Medium Businesses) signed a framework accord on harassment and violence on the workplace in Brussels on 26 April. After the joint decision taken by the Commission and European businesses in 2005 to adopt a policy of toleration zero towards a phenomenon that – in its various forms – affects at least 5% of the workforce in member states, the accord obliges employers to “manage cases of harassment or violence by applying rapid procedures and investigations based on the principles of dignity, confidentiality, impartiality and fairness”: those found guilty are liable to being sacked and, if so, the victims would be able to benefit from financial compensation to help them readjust. According to a recent survey by the Europe Foundation for the improvement of living and working conditions in Dublin, the workplaces most susceptible to the problem are those in the social and healthcare sector, education, public administration, transport, hotels and restaurants. The Eu Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Vladimir Spidla underlined the “progress made today by social Europe” and added that it is a “further proof of the effectiveness of social dialogue in obtaining real results”.
