Transfer of supervision and necessary reform

At its request, the OGBL met on 9 December 2022 with the Minister of Labor, Employment and Social Economy, Georges Engel, accompanied by representatives of the Ministry and of the Labor and Mines Inspectorate (ITM) to discuss the future of occupational medicine in Luxembourg.

The two parties discussed in particular the forthcoming transfer of ministerial supervision of occupational medicine – from the Ministry of Health to the Ministry of Labor – and its possible repercussions.

The OGBL welcomed this step, knowing that an occupational medicine closer to the employees and the companies is the guarantee of a better prevention of health and safety risks in the world of work. However, the OGBL was anxious to stress that the change of guardianship must not be limited to a simple formal approach, but must also lead to real progress.

The Minister said that he fully agreed with this vision of things and assured that this is indeed the objective of this change of supervision which is driven by a real will to achieve in the medium term a modern occupational medicine, closer to the employees.

The OGBL also presented to the Minister its main demands for a structural reform of occupational medicine.

One of the most important points concerns the functioning of the Higher Council for Occupational Health and Safety (HCOS). The OGBL is calling for fairer representation of employees in the future, but also for this body to be able to function in a tripartite way, so that the decisions taken there reflect the interests of the employees more closely.

Another key point for the OGBL is the creation of a single occupational health service, with the current multisectoral occupational health service (STM) as the governance model. It should be noted that today, with the exception of the STM, all other existing services in Luxembourg are managed exclusively by representatives of employers – which obviously does not guarantee impartial operation.

The STM is currently the only service based on a tripartite gevernance model, with equal representation of employees, employers and the state. Only a service that guarantees impartiality in its mode of operation can claim to be a preventive occupational health service, acting independently and in the interests of all parties.

The OGBL and the Minister also discussed the dramatic shortage of occupational health physicians that the country is currently experiencing. The OGBL proposed in this context to set up in Luxembourg a specific training in occupational medicine, so that a sufficient number of specialized doctors can be guaranteed in the medium term, the tasks devolved to occupational medicine can be properly fulfilled and that prevention – a crucial task – is put back at the center of the activity.

The OGBL has also appealed to the Minister to ensure that the current shortage does not under any circumstances lead to a deterioration of occupational medicine, which would not be acceptable to the OGBL. In order to compensate for the shortage, the OGBL proposed that certain tasks be taken over by nurses and specialist nurses, thus enabling occupational physicians to concentrate on prevention and the protection of the health of employees at their workplace.

The Minister of Labor has made it known that he shares these concerns and has assured that his aim is not at all to call into question the tasks of occupational medicine, but on the contrary to improve its functioning. An approach that the OGBL strongly welcomes.

The Minister of Labor also informed the OGBL representatives of his intention to draw up a national occupational health and safety plan, with the aim of coordinating all activities in this field and developing coherent projects with a real strategic vision.

The OGBL welcomes this step, knowing that such a plan should also contribute to a greater awareness of the importance of health and safety at work. The OGBL has stressed to the Minister that such a plan can only be realized if it is developed in close consultation with the social partners and taking into account the demands of both sides. The Minister indicated that this is how he intends to proceed and that consultations will take place with all actors.

The Minister and the OGBL finally agreed to continue and deepen this constructive dialogue in the coming months.

Press release by the OGBL,
December 20, 2022