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Parliamentary question - E-001903/2019Parliamentary question
E-001903/2019

Protecting the health of workers in the hairdressing industry

Question for written answer E-001903-19
to the Commission
Rule 130
Hugues Bayet (S&D)

More than one million people are employed in the hairdressing industry in Europe.

Hairdressers often suffer from physical or serious health problems owing to the physical nature of their work (e.g. standing up all day with their arms constantly above shoulder-level), as well as the nature of the cosmetic products they work with, which can be harmful if used repeatedly. A study published in 2010 showed that hairdressers’ exposure to carcinogenic substances and endocrine disruptors was having an impact on the profession in terms of the number of people diagnosed with bladder cancer and breast cancer. Asthma is also a widespread problem.

In 2012, with a view to combating these hazardous working conditions, and restricting hairdressers’ exposure to toxic bleaches and dyes in particular, the social partners approved a European framework agreement on health and safety in the hairdressing sector.

Despite this, however, in implementing its Better Regulation agenda, the Commission has thus far been opposed to turning the framework agreement into a directive.

As a result, the health of workers in the hairdressing industry is still not sufficiently protected.

Can the Commission tell us what its intentions are in this regard? And given that the Commission is fully committed to supporting the European Pillar of Social Rights, is it intending to take action to ensure, at long last, that the health of the thousands of people working in the hairdressing industry is sufficiently protected?

Last updated: 3 May 2019
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