The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) is calling on the European Commission to propose a new law on remote work, after talks between European and employers ended without agreement.
Why it matters: The unions want a law to guarantee the right to disconnect, ensure equal pay and treatment for teleworkers, protect privacy, and involve trade unions in the design and delivery of telework.
The big picture: Millions of people were rushed into telework during the pandemic, and it is now here to stay. The EU is looking to bring forward legislation to provide adequate protection.
What's next: Given the internal procedures and European Parliament elections, it is unlikely that any new law will be adopted until 2025. In the meantime, individual Member States are implementing their own laws... see this other story in this week's BEERG Newsletter.
________________
Additional material:
ETUC General Secretary Esther Lynch quote:
“During the pandemic, millions of people were rushed into makeshift telework situations. While lockdowns have been and gone, telework is here to stay. It is now time to learn the lessons of what has worked and fix what still isn’t working... The ball is now in the European Commission’s court. They did the right thing in putting the legislative process on pause to allow the space for negotiations. They need to now fill the gap and bring forward legislation at an EU before the end of this mandate. Working people shouldn’t be left without adequate protection."
