The Working Conditions Act – together with the Decree and the Regulation - contains rules for employers and employees to promote the health, safety and well-being of employees.
The Working Conditions Act is a framework act. This means that there are no concrete rules, but general provisions about the occupational health and safety policy in companies. It states that the employer and employees must work together to improve working conditions. The employer is ultimately responsible, but the employee also has the obligation to observe his own health and safety by, for example, using work equipment and protective equipment correctly.
More concrete rules per type of work or per sector can be found in the Decree and the Regulation.
Find out more:
Working Conditions Act
Working Conditions Decree
Working Conditions Regulation
There is a legislative proposal to amend the Working Conditions Act, which would require all employers to appoint a confidential counsellor to whom an employee who experiences inappropriate behaviour (including direct and indirect discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment, aggression, violence or bullying) can turn. When in place, the works council or employee representatives must agree to the appointment of a confidential advisor. If an employer fails to appoint an employee as a confidential counsellor, an external confidential counsellor must be appointed. Furthermore, the proposal regulates the tasks of a confidential counsellor, as well as their independence and a duty of confidentiality. The proposal also stipulates that a confidential counsellor must be sufficiently experienced and competent. Lastly, the legal status of the confidential counsellor is protected. Thus, the confidential counsellor may not be disadvantaged in connection with their position in the company or dismissed because of this position.