A multidisciplinary unit is to be set up in Luxembourg during 2003 to help people suffering from work-related stress. This is the outcome of a partnership between the OGB-L trade union confederation and the Luxembourg Mental Health League, with support from the Ministers of Labour and Health.
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A multidisciplinary unit is to be set up in Luxembourg during 2003 to help people suffering from work-related stress. This is the outcome of a partnership between the OGB-L trade union confederation and the Luxembourg Mental Health League, with support from the Ministers of Labour and Health.
During 2000, according to figures produced by the Union of Sickness and Maternity Insurance Funds (Union des caisses de maladie, UCM), people living in Luxembourg consumed EUR 11,235 million worth of medications, while stress-related expenditure accounted for 3%-4% of the Gross National Product of the Member States of the European Union. By 2020, stress could become the second most common type of illness, after cardio-vascular diseases. These figures underline the importance of the phenomenon of stress, which is particularly prevalent at the workplace due to increasing performance demands (TN0111109S).
The Luxembourg Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (Onofhängege Gewerkschafts-Bond Lëtzebuerg, OGB-L) and the Luxembourg Mental Health League (Ligue luxembourgeoise d’hygiène mentale) have been having talks on the issue of stress since 2001, and in September 2002 they concluded a partnership agreement aimed at setting up a national scheme with the task of assisting workers who suffer from stress-related illnesses and want help.
The scheme will have at its disposal a multidisciplinary tram of psychologists, general practitioners, psychoanalysts and social workers, which will be able to deal with the particular problems encountered (using a telephone help-line and consultations leading to individualised counselling) and take part in awareness-raising campaigns and activities.
Financial resources will have to be released if the new unit is to be established in 2003. On 18 September 2002, the two partners met the Minister of Labour, who responded favourably to the new initiative. The Minister of Health will also meet the partners. Furthermore, a meeting has been scheduled with the Union of Luxembourg Enterprises (Union des enterprises luxembourgeoises, UEL) employers’ confederation, which suggests that the employers may look on the initiative favourably.
The League’s president believes that the agreement is a major step towards an effective approach to work-related stress, particularly as both parties have stated they are prepared to open their partnership up to other social partners.
A Eurofound recomenda citar esta publicação da seguinte maneira.
Eurofound (2002), Unit set up to help workers suffering from stress, article.
