Work

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, stronger axis between companies and trade unions on health and safety

Federchimica, Farmindustria and all sectoral unions put employability at the centre of the dialogue for the next contract. 3 companies awarded: Cambrex Profarmaco Milano, Infineum, Sanofi

by Cristina Casadei

21 November 2024

3' min read

Key points

The centrality of welfare and supplementary healthcare
Safety enters schools

3' min read

It is also with days such as the one dedicated to safety, health and sustainable development that companies and trade unions increase the culture on a subject on which one can never let one's guard down. On Wednesday, 20 November, Federchimica, Farmindustria and Filctem, Femca, Uiltec and Ugl Chemicals, in celebrating their national chemical-pharmaceutical collective agreement, confirmed the value of the choices that have been made in the various contract renewals that have followed, characterised by continuous and constructive dialogue.

Such as the one that is underway for the next contract (the current one will expire in June 2025) where there is much discussion on the impact of environmental and digital transitions, which represent a major challenge for the future but also profound transformations for the world of work. This means, in perspective, equipping ourselves with specific skills to be globally competitive, also in terms of employability. So much so that on Safety, Health and Sustainable Development Day it was employability that took centre stage. Major investments in research, innovation and training are the natural consequence of this approach and are the basis for strengthening the competitiveness of companies, for improving employment and for consolidating the common goal of sustainable development.

In order to grow the culture on the subject in the sector, numerous initiatives have been implemented at all levels, as well as the dissemination of shared social responsibility projects. These are all opportunities to represent joint points of view to the outside world, but also to propose constructive ways of relating at company level. In this regard, the day awards the 'Best Shared Company Experiences' in the field of Social Responsibility, which this year went to 3 companies, Cambrex Profarmaco Milano, Infineum, Sanofi, for the choices they have made to improve working conditions. See.

The Centrality of Welfare and Supplementary Healthcare

Cambrex Profarmaco Milano was recognised, in particular, for the work done on contractual Welfare, with social and economic support initiatives to encourage work-life balance and the protection of parenthood, which led the company to obtain gender equality certification. At a time when the fragility of the public health system is becoming increasingly evident, the company has taken full responsibility for contributing to the sector's Supplementary Health Fund, which guarantees free medical services and special agreements for other health expenses. Added to this is the provision of economic support, with monthly contributions of up to 200 euros to employees with dependent parents.

Infineum Italia, on the other hand, has been awarded for its integrated sustainable development choices, through the support and upholding of a genuine culture of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). The path taken has enabled the company to obtain certification for gender equality and personal well-being. In order to improve well-being at work, the chemical company that produces additives for the oil industry has set up a free listening service with interventions by psychologists and psychotherapists for the analysis, identification and prevention of the most common violent behaviour at work. These are all initiatives that have increased the sense of participation and solidarity among employees and have also activated a Solidarity Fund to encourage a better work/life balance for those who need more holidays and leave to assist their families.

For the pharmaceutical company Sanofi, the recognition has come for the social responsibility initiatives it has put in place, with the recognition of social and economic protections dedicated to employees in situations of oncological pathologies and debilitating illnesses that entail a long absence from work. The latest agreement reached with the trade unions protects workers with serious health problems, who are unable to work normally, through job preservation with all the economic benefits provided by the company equal to 100% for up to 12 months and economic support of a one-off amount of 2,000 euro to cover medical expenses not covered by the national health system, with the possibility of working continuously remotely for a maximum period of 6 months and emotional support through a team of volunteers specially trained by the company.

Security enters schools

To raise awareness among today's students, who will be tomorrow's workers, Farmindustria, Federchimica and the trade unions have also entered schools and devised the "Culture of Safety 2024" Award to make everyone aware of the issue, even outside the workplace. The "Safety at School" prize, the result of work shared between Covestro S.r.l. and a group of students from Class 4AC of the "Marconi" Industrial Technical Institute in Dalmine, was awarded for the Plan devised to spread the culture of safety within the school structure, such as the use of safety signs in 3D format that are more visible and identifiable.