title: The legislative backgrounds of workplace health promotion in three European countries: a comparative analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article investigates the legal database and theoretical basis of workplace health promotion (WHP) in three European countries: Finland, Latvia and Lithuania, and aims to find insights into effective WHP implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In November 2013, a stakeholders' survey was carried out. The questionnaire included questions about legal documents and non-legislative measures relevant to WHP, institutions and other bodies/organizations working in the field, WHP conception/definition, and implementation of WHP activities according to the enterprises' size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only Finland has adopted a specific law on occupational health care (separate from occupational safety). ILO conventions No. 161 (Occupational Health Services Convention) and No. 187 (Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention) are ratified only in Finland. In Finland, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health acts as one ministry, while two Baltic countries have two separate ministries (one for health and another for social affairs). None of the countries has legally approved a definition of WHP. Latvia and Lithuania tend to separate WHP from other activities, whereas Finland integrates WHP into other occupational health and safety elements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Finland has a more extensive legislative and organizational background to WHP than Latvia and Lithuania. In defining WHP, all the countries refer to the Luxembourg Declaration on Workplace Health Promotion in the European Union. Finland's practice of integrating WHP into other occupational health and safety elements is important.
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Centre, Institute of Hygiene, Didžioji str. 22, Vilnius, Lithuana.
authors.forename: Rasa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Šidagytė
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema str. 16, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Maija
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eglīte
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Aapistie 1, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Centre, Institute of Hygiene, Didžioji str. 22, Vilnius, Lithuana.
authors.forename: Dovilė
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Šorytė
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health of Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema str. 16, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Ivars
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vanadziņš
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hopsu
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lerssi-Uskelin
authors.affiliation: Department of General Psychology, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University, Universiteto str. 9/1, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Laima
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bulotaitė
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health of Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema str. 16, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Lāsma
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kozlova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Safety and Environmental Health of Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema str. 16, Riga, Latvia.
authors.forename: Svetlana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lakiša
authors.affiliation: Occupational Health Centre, Institute of Hygiene, Didžioji str. 22, Vilnius, Lithuana ; Positive Health Team, Šviesos str. 4B-7, Vilnius, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Sigita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vičaitė
keywords: Enterprise; Legislation; Occupational health; Workplace health promotion