Commenting on the European Commission’s proposals for its deregulatory programme (REFIT), Veronica Nilsson of the European Trade Union Confederation, said “The Commission is boasting that they are making EU law lighter, simpler and less costly, but for whom? Pregnant workers that will see the proposal for a maternity protection directive withdrawn? Or hairdressers that are denied occupational safety and health protection? Why does not the Commission look at the cost to society of not having adequate health and safety legislation in place? I am also sceptical at the setting up of a new high-level group while its composition is unbalanced and the focus on deregulation remains.”
