Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002607/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Raffaele Topo (S&D), Alessandra Moretti (S&D), Elisabetta Gualmini (S&D), Brando Benifei (S&D), Pina Picierno (S&D), Pierfrancesco Maran (S&D), Stefano Bonaccini (S&D), Antonio Decaro (S&D), Giuseppe Lupo (S&D), Romana Jerković (S&D), Estelle Ceulemans (S&D), Dario Tamburrano (The Left), Kateřina Konečná (NI), Branislav Ondruš (NI), Diana Iovanovici Şoşoacă (NI), Flavio Tosi (PPE), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Aurelijus Veryga (ECR)
In a report published in 2016[1], the Commission defined arduous work as follows:
‘Occupations involving the exposure of the worker over a period of time to one or several factors leading to professional situations susceptible to leave long-lasting and irreversible effects on his/her health; these factors are related to physical constraints, psychosocial risks, an aggressive physical environment, working organisation and working rhythms, including shift work’.
According to a recent study conducted by the European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS), the working conditions of doctors meet all of these criteria, particularly in the more demanding medical specialisations. Furthermore, the current shortage of doctors has further deteriorated their working conditions, increasing the physical and psychological demands of their profession[2].
In light of the above:
- 1.Does the Commission intend to promote an EU initiative to define common criteria for fair remuneration, safe working hours, and the recognition of the physical and psychological risks faced by doctors as arduous or hazardous work?
- 2.Does the Commission plan to initiate a dialogue with the Member States and social partners with a view to harmonising the implementation of national legislative standards on this issue?
Submitted: 27.6.2025
- [1] European Commission: Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Applica, Liser, Ose, Spasova, S. et al., Retirement regimes for workers in arduous or hazardous jobs in Europe – A study of national policies 2016, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2016, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2767/978434.
- [2] European Federation of Salaried Doctors (FEMS), European Doctors Working Conditions – A FEMS White Book, 2024.