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<< atgalDrivers are forced to violate the work and rest regime

2010-05-03

April 28 - Global Workers Safety and Health Day and International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers. Drivers' trade union chairman Ramunas Narbutas said that the long-distance drivers work and rest regime failure leads to death at work, additionally - there is a significant risk to others.

"The drivers are willing to earn more, so often agree to violate work and rest regime to drive more kilometers, because oral is often agreed with the employer to get pay for mileage, - said R. Narbutas. - Significantly more dangerous situations where weekly rest periods are violated.

It turns out, there is a practice, when after weeks of work for returned driver retroactively place orders for holiday, that the driver was on vacation, but again he goes to a new trip.

"When the driver gets tired and decides to withdraw from the work and rest violations, he becomes an unwanted employee. Individually the person in the defense of its interests against the employer has only one measure - to leave the job. Willing to save the job, he is forced to carry out the will imposed on him "- tells the Driver’ union leader.

According to him, the collective bargaining is far away in transport companies: "As soon as the employer get informed about determination to become a trade union member, the employee becomes unwanted. For him intolerable working conditions are concluded and the driver usually has to terminate the employment contract. "

Another problem that can provoke a death at work, that some drivers are forced to drive technically unfit vehicles, with no technical inspection. If accident would happen, liability would fall to the driver, he would not receive insurance benefits.

R. Narbutas draws attention to the fact that the in EU Lithuanians are mentioned as the nation with least attention to workers occupational safety and health. "Transport Minister Eligijus Masiulis welcomes increase transport services export in 2009 to 2.8 billion Litas, compared with 2008 - 1.6 billion Litas. However, the number of drivers decreased by about 5000 (from 30 000 to 25 000) due to international carriers companies going bankrupt. No one is questioning why Lithuania’s carriers service has become in demand,"- surprised the trade union chairman. Unfortunately, he says, this has been achieved not through a process of optimization, but by violating EU foreseen work and rest periods for drivers and at the work pay expense.

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