THE REQUIREMENTS for employers regarding the working conditions and preventive medical exams of their employees will change as of August. President Andrej Kiska has signed an amendment to the law on protection, support and development of public health, which parliament cleared in late June, the TASR newswire reported on July 15.
Under the new rules, employers will have to secure supervision over the working conditions of all employees, regardless of the risk level of their job. They will be allowed to ask security technicians to do this work.
Moreover, all employees will have to undergo preventive medical examinations.
The changes came in response to criticism from the European Commission, according to the Health Ministry, the author of the amendment. The EC claimed that the Slovak legislation does not comply with the regulation over implementing measures to support better security and health of people at work, especially with regard to securing medical services for employees. According to the current rules, employers are required to secure medical exams only for employees with high-risk jobs.
According to the EC, the employer must protect the health of all employees, regardless of the category of their job, as reported by TASR.
Health Minister Zuzana Zvolenská is convinced that the protection of employees’ health will improve. The opposition, however, said during the discussion over the changes that the new law will only increase the burden on people.
Source: TASR
Compiled by Radka Minarechová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
