Aspects of safety and health at work in the context of EU and Kosovo

Abstract

Occupational Safety and Health are the two key components of employee efficiency in their workplace, and at the same time guaranteeing them can directly impact employee well-being and productivity for employers and their earnings. Obviously, legal definition and their protection fall under the State domain, respectively Institutions that are authorized to supervise the implementation of legislation by the employers. Having in consideration the facts that reports obtained from the labor field, particularly those of “Occupational Safety and Health” reflect the continuous challenges of majority of employees, it is understandable why there is a need for adequate legal regulation in this field at national and international level, including international standards (ILO Conventions), as well as the Treaties - EU Directives referring to the relevant field. In this context, an attempt was to elaborate on the nature and importance of these two components in the international level as well as the reflection they have within national legislation specifically the case of Kosovo in relation to ILO Conventions and with EU law, with EC Framework Directive no. 89/391 of 12 June 1989. The reasons for such elaboration lie in the fact of our society's aspirations to be part of the European Union, and the development of adequate legislation in this field as well as compatible with EU law, particularly after signing the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) between Kosovo and the European Union (EU), where practically Kosovo has taken the legal and contractual obligation to approximate national legislation with the EU Acquis. The challenges in implementing national legislation as well as the increasing number of deaths and injuries in the workplace will be the focus of this study. In this context methods for practical harmonization will be analyzed and studied, as well as recommendations on how to act in specific areas so that workers are guaranteed dignity and above all, safety and health at their workplace.