Agreements between Labour Unions and Employers’ Associations as a Strategy for the Prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury

In 1992 the Danish labour unions and employers’ associations entered into an agreement on an action plan against hazardous repetitive work. The ambitious goal of this government-supported plan was to reduce hazardous repetitive work by 50 percent by the year 2000. An assessment of the effect of the plan reveals that in spite of certain shortcomings the plan did bring about a reduction of repetitive work, though the goal of a 50 percent reduction was not accomplished. One may draw the important lesson that agreements between the labour market parties need substantial backing from the authorities in order to be effective; otherwise, both the labour unions and employers’ associations will have dif.culties in enforcing obligations on their members. This is especially the case if companies that are either passive or outright negatively disposed are to be covered as well. But if the three parties cooperate, a strategy based on agreements seems to be a valuable approach to the solution of those working environment problems that are dif.cult to regulate by clear and measurable standards.