The promotion of occupational (and personal) health in collective bargaining

Abstract

The essay is based on the basis that the development of a labor benefit largely conditions the living habits (and with it, and reflexively, the health) of working people. In this sense, it is based on the hypothesis that it is a para-labor factor that could be taken into account (from the broad concept of professional risk and by virtue of the generic obligation contained in article 14 LPRL) when carrying out the evaluation of occupational risks, aiming to promote and facilitate healthy lifestyle habits in the context of labor relations.

In this sense, collective bargaining plays a key role in promoting various aspects of the health and well-being of workers that are not always being managed correctly; Most of the time, at most, the agreed norm deals with ordering what is related to the annual medical examination (ex art. 22 LPRL), leaving content related to other possible health promotion actions devoid of content.

It is necessary to keep in mind that there are various measures that, whether the sectoral agreement or the company agreement, could be implemented to contribute to such a lofty objective: from facilitating workers to have a healthy diet (either with corporate canteens, or through collaboration with restaurants in the area where the work center is located), to promoting physical activity of workers in the work context (when the size of the company allows it, in the facilities themselves; when not, through other channels). imaginative), including encouraging the cessation of unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking or excessive consumption of alcohol and other narcotic substances.

Likewise, the work reflects on the undeniable benefits of the productive organization developing an adequate and effective mental health policy, highlighting here the technical productive context and the necessary consideration of the gender perspective.

Therefore, the benefits for both the worker and public health would be immense and, in the same way, the company would see its performance improved in the form of a healthier and more productive workforce and lower costs in the form of sick leave and reduced productivity.