From 1 January 1999, Denmark's Working Environment Council (Arbejdsmiljørådet) has been reformed and 11 new branch working environment councils (Branchearbejdsmiljørådene, BAR s) have been created, following agreement among the social partners on the framework. Previously, the most important task of the national Council had been handling complaints, but now its main role will be to coordinate politically the entire effort of the social partners in the work environment area. It must prepare goals for this effort and coordinate transversal activities, and should thus give priority to communication and information as well as gathering knowledge. As before, the Council's role includes suggesting law reforms and new rules in general.
As of January 1999, Denmark's Working Environment Council has been reformed and given a different role, while 11 new branch working environment councils have been created.
From 1 January 1999, Denmark's Working Environment Council (Arbejdsmiljørådet) has been reformed and 11 new branch working environment councils (Branchearbejdsmiljørådene, BAR s) have been created, following agreement among the social partners on the framework. Previously, the most important task of the national Council had been handling complaints, but now its main role will be to coordinate politically the entire effort of the social partners in the work environment area. It must prepare goals for this effort and coordinate transversal activities, and should thus give priority to communication and information as well as gathering knowledge. As before, the Council's role includes suggesting law reforms and new rules in general.
The tasks of the 11 new BARs, which replace the former branch safety councils, are to deal with branch-oriented matters and to strengthen efforts in individual sectors and companies. A new procedure seeks to ensure coordination of the efforts of the individual BARs and the national Working Environment Council, with the BARs responsible for:
preparing material for written workplace assessments of health and safety conditions (Arbejdsladsvurderinger, APV);
mapping out branch-specific work environment problems;
making proposals to the national Council concerning implementation of research projects; and
contributing to the development and implementation of information and educational activities which place maximum focus on the specific problems and needs of individuals.
The changes follow controversial amendments to the Work Environment Act, which led in June 1997 to the resignation of the Danish Employers' Confederation (Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening, DA) from the Working Environment Council (DK9706116N). Following a compromise with the Ministry of Labour, DA re-entered the Council in summer 1998 (DK9806173F).
The introduction of the new national Council and the hoped-for improved effectiveness of the BARs are in line with the trade unions' view of the work environment as one of their most important tasks. In a recent survey of members of Danish Federation of Trade Unions (Landsorganisationen i Danmark, LO) carried out by the Gallup Polling Institute (DK9901105N), the work environment was identified as the most important union policy area, with 54% of respondents describing it as "very important".
Eurofound doporučuje citovat tuto publikaci následujícím způsobem.
Eurofound (1999), New Working Environment Council established, article.
