Addiction plea to firms.

SOCIAL justice minister Brian Gibbons yesterday called on private and public sector employers in Wales to tackle substance misuse at work.

He said that helping bosses to understand the challenges of drugs and alcohol misuse is a key action area in the Assembly Government's substance misuse strategy.

"The growing number of working days lost due to alcohol and drug related problems mean that it is imperative that organisations educate and influence attitudes across their workforce, particularly in relation to levels of alcohol consumption," he said at a seminar of occupational health and HR professionals.

The Corus steelworks in Port Talbot, rather than dismissing employees with substance misuse problems, worked with the local substance misuse agency to help them access treatment to tackle their problems, he said.

"The Assembly Government wants to see similar policies put in place across Wales."