Practical guidelines of a non-binding nature on the protection of the health and safety of workers from the risks related to chemical agents at work

The Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities has the task of contributing to the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European Social Model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities.

It plays a key role in promoting positive interaction between economic, social and employment policies, bringing in the main players who can help to achieve the EU strategic objective, viz. to make Europe the world most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy, capable of sustainable economic growth, with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

In other words, the Directorate-General's job is to play its part in addressing the major challenges and formulating concrete responses with a view to achieving this strategic objective, more especially as regards :

• Employment thanks to the European Employment Strategy (application of the open method of co-ordination aimed at bringing national policies closer in this field) and the European Social Fund financial tool (EUR 9 billion per year managed in partnership with the Member States).
• Structures in the world of work by approximating national legislation regulating the labour market, by developing social dialogue at European level, by modernising labour relations, and by making the EU workers more mobile.
• Social exclusion and social protection by reinforcing the co-operation between Member States, drawing up legislation and running programmes to counter discrimination, promoting fundamental rights and by enhancing the integration of disabled people.
• Equality between men and women by producing and overseeing legislation, running programmes designed to improve equal opportunities for women and men and ensuring that the gender issue is taken into account in all fields of Community action.

General health and safety information at a European level can be found at the Directorate General Employment and Social Affairs pages on health and safety. For example information on national measures transposing the health and safety directives is available.