La reconnaissance des maladies professionnelles, une procédure opportunément restrictive

The system for the recognition of occupational diseases in the general social security scheme, which has moreover inspired other schemes, is funded entirely by employers. As its functioning is closely linked to the funding of compensation, the use of a system of tables to evaluate the link to work serves to meet the objective of compensating only diseases that can be related with certainty to work. Furthermore, the codification of these tables is the subject of bitter negotiations that render them obsolete. In this way, compensation for occupational diseases puts little pressure on labour costs, but does not cover all the disorders actually related to work. As a result, the system for covering health-care costs is imperfect, the compensation system for occupational disorders rejecting the majority of diseases related at least partially to work, particularly musculoskeletal and mental health disorders.