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Member States, workers and employers of the Advisory Committee on Safety and Health at Work (ACSH) agree on the need to recognize Covid-19 as an occupational disease for workers who are particularly exposed.
This concerns health care, social services and home care, as well as activities with a proven risk of infection that have intensified. The ACSH also supported the project to update the European list of occupational diseases, as announced in the EU’s strategic framework for health and safety at work for the period 2021-2027.
The Commission recalls that the epidemiological situation related to Covid-19 “remains serious” in Europe. “As of 12 May 2022, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has classified certain sub-variants of Omicron as of concern. This warrants increased protection for workers in view of possible future waves of Covid-19.”
It should be noted that the recognition and compensation of occupational diseases is the responsibility of the Member States. Indeed, most Member States already recognise Covid-19 as an occupational disease or an accident at work.
