Speaking during the opening of a two-day workshop on Psychosocial Risks at Work organised by the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI), Minister for Social Dialogue Helena Dalli remarked how work-related stress is the second most frequently reported work-related health problem in Europe, with around half the workers considering it to be common at their place of work.

Quoting Eurostat figures, Dr Dalli mentioned how over a nine year period, 28% of workers in Europe were exposed to psychosocial risks at work that had a negative effect on their mental well-being.

Minister Dalli explained how following a report by the European Commission in 2011 regarding Malta’s lack of implementation of a Framework Agreement on work-related stress agreed between European social partners, the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) has assisted the Maltese social partners in fulfilling their legal obligations.

It was remarked how the OHSA took a proactive approach and developed a Framework for the Control of Work-Related Stress that has already been discussed with social partners.

Such framework outlines the various measures that social partners should take such as awareness-raising, training and education as well as the sharing of resources both internally and between enterprises.

Minister Helena Dalli emphasised the need of cooperation and action in this regard by the Maltese social partners by accepting the Frameworks’ guidelines and provisions, circulating it amongst its members and fully endorsing its uptake. By doing so, Malta will also be endorsing the European Social Partners’ Framework Agreement.

The workshop is being attended by trade union representatives from the 28 EU member states and from European Trade Union Industry Federations.

During this workshop, Maltese counterparts FORUM Unions Maltin will be signing a partnership agreement with ETIU to work on future projects concerning psychosocial risks at work.