Translation of "Travailleur du tabac " (French → English) :

(24) This Recommendation is without prejudice to the Community legislation laying down minimum requirements for the safety and health protection of workers adopted under Article 137 of the Treaty, to Directive 2001/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2001 on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning the manufacture, presentation and sale of tobacco products[20] and to Commission Decision 2003/641/EC of 5 September 2003 on the use of colour photographs or other illustrations as health warnings on tobacco packages[21].

(14) Council Directive 89/391/EEC of 12 June 1989 on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health of workers at work[15], while not explicitly referring to tobacco smoke, covers all risks to the health and safety of workers.[16]

* The Tobacco Fund, as such, would be phased out and replaced by a new tool, a financial envelope for restructuring tobacco producing areas, including measures for workers external to the producer's family in the production regions.

According to the ILO, while workers in tobacco manufacturing are among the best paid industrial employees in the world, tobacco farmers in developing and some transition countries are generally disorganised and unable to profit from the total value added generated by the industry.

We would highlight the fact that this document openly recognizes that tobacco is a non-surplus-producing activity, accounting for one-third of the tobacco required by the European market, and employing 170 000 producers, a workforce of 30 000 at the primary processing stage and a further 84 000 in the tobacco industry - direct employment for 284 000 people.

In the social affairs field, apart from the various specific action programmes, such as those in the area of public health, and the European Social Fund, EU legislation covers health and safety at work, labour law and working conditions, equal opportunities for men and women, coordination of social security schemes for migrant workers, and tobacco products.