European Trade Union Committee for Education

From 19 to 22 of May the first Case Study in Romania of the project "Social Partners promoting Decent Workplaces in the Education Sector" took place. The project aims to promote social partner initiatives to combat work-related stress (WRS.) ETUCE considers WRS as a serious risk which affects the occupational health and safety and can result in psychosocial hazards.

Together with the European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE) , ETUCE wishes to develop practical guidelines to combat WRS and psychosocial hazards and to promote social partner initiatives at local regional and national level. For this purpose an advisory group with members from different European member states accompanies the project ETUCE. The first project activity has been the launch of an online survey to identify social partner initiatives on the prevention of WRS. This is followed by four case studies. The results of the survey and case studies are to be discussed in two training seminars next year.

The first case study took place in Bucharest, Romania and was mainly organised by the ETUCE member organisation Fédération des Syndicats Libres de l'Enseignement (FSLE). The study delegation had the opportunity to meet with a representative of the Romanian Ministry for education and scientific research who explained his point of view on the Romanian education system. The trainers from FSLE who work with teachers on the protection of occupational health and safety explained potential work hazards of teachers and the researcher Valeriu Frunzaru presented the study on occupational health and safety in schools and kindergartens in Romania. Furthermore the study delegation visited the primary and lower secondary Princess Margareta School and the upper secondary Alexandru Ioan Cuza School in Bucharest. Both schools provided excellent examples and ideas on the prevention of work-related stress and the positive effects of team building measures.

The next case studies are planned  for Finland, Belgium and Germany. The members of the advisory group have the opportunity to visit two schools in every country to see more good practice examples to extract recommendations for schools and social partners in education in Europe. ETUCE provides translation of the reports in order to facilitate the exchange of good practices and working methods between the participating schools.

To read more about the project, please click here.