Jill Evans MEP has called for a proposed EU-wide strategy on health and safety at work to offer better protection to women in farming who undertake a whole range of farming tasks.
Speaking at the European Parliament’s Committee for Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities the all-Wales Euro MP said:
"Agriculture is one of the four sectors with an accident rate which is 30% above average, which is why it must be paid attention. Women are often considered not to be doing manual farming tasks such as driving heavy farm vehicles. There is often lack of access in rural areas to training and information on health and safety precautions."
"Surveys by the NFU and NFWI show that 56% of women do manual work on the farm every day. Other research suggests that between 60% and 70% do manual work regularly. Across the whole of western Europe this figure rises to 76%. These women must be offered better health and safety protection in the future and I want this reflected in the proposed EU strategy."
The Health and Safety of workers is one of the EUs most important social policy sectors and has been building since the late 70s. This new strategy will run from 2002-2006. Jill Evans added:
"There is now a growing percentage of women in the labour market and their needs should be considered throughout the proposals. The world of work is changing with more part-time workers, short-term contracts, and flexible hours and locations of work. This means we are faced with new health and safety risks which should be combated with new measures."
The leader of Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales in the European Parliament also called on the European Commission to integrate a gender dimension throughout the health and safety strategy to include:
* the double workload of paid employment and family responsibilities faced by many people, mainly women;
* guidelines for companies on preventing sexual harassment, violence and bullying at work;
* a specific law on the health and safety of homeworkers.
Note for Editors
Jill Evans MEP is Vice-Chair of the Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities Committee in the European Parliament and is author of their report on the Commission’s Health and Safety strategy for 2002-2006.
Diwedd/Ends.
