The Government is missing out on savings of around 55 million euro a year - due to its failure to tackle workplace absenteeism.
That's the message from the Fit for Work Coalition - which wants a national programme for early intervention in workplace absence.
The coalition of healthcare professionals, employers' groups and trade unions want to improve the outcomes for people with Musculoskeletal disorders.
Around 80 percent of the population will suffer from MSDs at some point, and every year, 7 million working days are lost due to conditions including arthritis and back pain.
Dr Don Thornhill is chair of the Fit for Work Coalition and of the National Competitiveness Council;
