On Monday 27 November, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called on the European Commission to propose legislation on telework and the right to disconnect at a time when negotiations between the European social partners have failed to reach a conclusion, it said in a press release.
“The ETUC is calling on the European Commission to initiate swift legislative action on telework and the right to disconnect following the blocking of a European social partner agreement by employers”, commented the ETUC.
In June 2022 (see EUROPE 12981/24), three European employers’ organisations signed a social dialogue agreement which included a commitment to negotiate a legally binding agreement on telework in the form of a directive.
“However, after negotiations lasting more than a year, two of the three employers’ organisations refused to put forward any text. The ETUC regrets that employers were unable to communicate a pathway to a successful outcome and that they withdrew from negotiations”, deplores the trade union organisation.
The employers’ organisations that have walked away from the negotiations are BusinessEurope and SME United.
The European Commissioner for Employment and Social Rights, Nicolas Schmit, expressed his concern about the situation on 24 November on X (formerly Twitter). “I am launching a solemn appeal to the social partners, inviting them to reach an agreement on the right to disconnect. Failure would have serious consequences for social dialogue at a time when it is more necessary than ever”, he commented.
The need for regulation of teleworking has become even more urgent since the Covid-19 pandemic. The European survey on working conditions shows that people who regularly work from home are six times more likely to work in their free time, and twice as likely to work 48 hours, says the confederation.
Contacted by EUROPE, BusinessEurope had not yet responded to our requests by the time of going to press, nor explained the reasons for this blockage. EUROPE will continue to follow this story. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)