Almost 20 per cent of all employed people feel unsafe in the workplace due to the corona crisis. Among the low-skilled, this percentage is higher: 33 per cent. Employers would not take enough measures to protect them from contamination.
This is according to research by CNV among a group of 2,000 workers, conducted by Maurice de Hond. Workers in vital professions, such as warehouse workers and transporters, cannot do their work from home. Of these workers, 33 per cent feel unsafe. 27 per cent say their employer does not take proper measures to protect them.
"Converted, this means that more than nearly two million employed people currently feel unsafe. Employers are not taking sufficient measures to protect them. Extremely unacceptable. If we do nothing, millions of Dutch people risk being contaminated with Corona through the workplace," said Piet Fortuin, CNV president.
'Opposition white collar and blue collar'
The union calls it distressing that the low-skilled in particular are "paying the price of this crisis". "Many of them work in vital sectors and are on the frontline of this crisis. They unfortunately enjoy less protection than the highly educated. The contrast between white and blue-collar workers is again emerging."
CNV calls on members to report abuses. Fortuin: 'We will monitor workplace safety even more closely in the coming period. Should the abuses continue, we will call on the government to carry out more inspections. But hopefully it won't come to that and everyone will be able to do their work safely.'
