Answer given by Mr Schmit on behalf of the European Commission
8.7.2020
On 30 March 2020, the Commission adopted Guidelines concerning the exercise of the free movement of workers during the COVID-19 outbreak[1]. The Commission expects M ember States to allow cross-border workers to enter the territory of the host Member State and have unhindered access to their place of work if they exercise critical occupations that are listed non-exhaustively in the Guidelines.
They had a positive effect and the situation has been improving considerably since then. The Commission continues monitoring that the measures adopted by the Member States are necessary, proportionate and non-discriminatory.
The Joint European Roadmap towards lifting COVID-19 containment measures[2] confirmed that the gradual removal of restrictions and reopening of borders should give priority to cross-border and seasonal workers and should avoid any discrimination against EU mobile workers. Furthermore, the Guidance adopted on 13 May 2020[3] included a common approach to restoring free movement at EU internal borders in a gradual and coordinated way.
Health screening for those workers should be carried out under the same conditions as for nationals in the same occupations.
The strict respect of the existing national provisions transposing EU rules on safety and health at work is more than ever of utmost importance, in particular the general obligation for employers to assess all possible risks and put in place adequate preventive and protective measures, including providing required personal protective equipment or hygiene products.
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work has recently published guidance for the workplace on COVID-19 and for employers on coming back to work after COVID-19, which is designed to assist employers and businesses in providing advice to staff in workplaces[4].
- [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AC%3A2020%3A102I%3ATOC
- [2] https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/communication-european-roadmap-lifting-coronavirus-containment-measures_en
- [3] Towards a phased and coordinated approach for restoring freedom of movement and lifting internal border control https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/covid-19-towards-phased-and-coordinated-approach-lifting-internal-border-controls-and-restoring-freedom-movement_en
- [4] guidance for the workplace on COVID-19 https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/COVID-19:_guidance_for_the_workplace#See and https://osha.europa.eu/en/publications/covid-19-back-workplace-adapting-workplaces-and-protecting-workers/view