By Henrietta Billings - 5th September 2005
The European Parliament is set to lock horns on Wednesday over controversial new laws designed to ensure company employees cover up in the sun.
Under the European Commission's proposals, employers would have to assess exposure risk for natural and artificial light - including sunlight.
MEPs are split over amendments that would water down the rules - leaving it up to member states to decide whether to force employers to assess the risks of exposure to sunlight.
Green and Socialist MEPs are expected to back the European Commission, national governments and trade unions in their calls for references to natural sunlight to be included in the text.
But ALDE MEPs will be voting to scrap sunshine from the text completely, according to group leader Graham Watson.
"This is exactly the kind of area in relation to the Lisbon Agenda where the EU should not be making policy unless it is proved to be needed."
"I asked Commissioner Spidla last week for evidence that the sun is a particular problem for workers - and he was unable to give me any. "
"The ALDE group will be voting to remove natural radiation sources - ie sunlight - from the directive."
Meanwhile centre-right EPP-ED members are set to back their Hungarian rapporteur's compromise amendments leaving the decision to national governments.
The European Parliament's rapporteur Csaba Ory who tabled the compromise amendments told reporters on Wednesday he was hopeful his amended report would be passed, but acknowledged that opions were split on the issue.
"It is true that there has been political debate on the amendments... In the employment committee We have tried to establish a compromise that will be accepted by the majority," he said.
"I am optimistic that it will be approved tomorrow."
The European Commission backed by national governments and trade unions is keen to see its proposals protecting workers from optical radiation passed in their entirety - including references to natural sunlight.
Ahead of the vote, European business organisations are lobbying MEPs hard in favour of the compromise amendments.
Critics argue that the new law could result in fully clothed lifeguards in open-air swimming pools, buiders and barmaids forced to cover up as employers made daily sunlight assessments.
“Imposing technical obligations at EU level to regulate the effects of sunlight, which varies dramatically across Europe, borders on the ridiculous," said UEAPME Secretary General Hans-Werner Müller.
"We are calling on the European Parliament to inject some common sense into these proposals in their vote on the directive.”
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