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date: 25 November 2008

embargo: For immediate release

Government plans to reduce workers' ill-health could have gone much further, says TUC

Commenting on the Government's response to the Dame Carol Black review of the health of Britain's working age population Working for a Healthier Tomorrow, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This goes some way towards addressing the health problems faced by people at work, and by those unable to work because of ill-health, but it could have gone much further.

'Workers made ill by their jobs need early access to rehabilitation and better support to help them get back to work as soon as they are able to. While the 'Fit for work' pilots go some way towards achieving this, they will have little relevance to the vast majority of workers who fall ill or are injured through work.

'More must be done to stop employees from becoming ill or injured in the first place. This report shows that ministers recognise the importance of enforcement in improving health and safety in workplaces. But without additional resources to the Health and Safety Executive and local councils, there is unlikely to be any increase in the number of safety inspections.

'In addition, while the response strongly emphasises the role of small businesses in reducing ill-health, there is far less about empowering and supporting workers and those on benefits themselves.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 25 Nov 2008