In 2019, only 28% of all persons employed in enterprises in the EU were provided with a company portable computer or other portable device such as a smartphone, which allow internet connection via mobile telephone networks for business purposes, according to figures published by the EU Statistical Office, Eurostat, on Friday 17 April. These figures speak for themselves at a time when teleworking is booming with the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, this trend is increasing. In 2018, only 26% of workers on average had such equipment. However, these results conceal major disparities between Member States. In 2019, this practice was much more common in Sweden, with 57% of staff, followed by Ireland (55%), Finland (54%) and Denmark (52%).
In contrast, only 11% of persons employed in enterprises in Bulgaria were provided with such company mobile devices. The shares were also low in Cyprus (16%), Greece (17%), Slovakia, Romania and Portugal (18% each).
For its part, Eurofound, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, has launched an extensive online survey on working conditions during COVID-19.
To participate in the survey: https://bit.ly/2Kb6ERp (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)