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The European Commission is taking the next steps towards introducing such new workers’ rights as to fair telework and disconnect by launching a second-stage talks with social partners. Since 2019, the telework has doubled in the EU: in 2024, one in five Europeans (over 20 percent) is working from home at least part of their time.
Background
Over recent decades, the use of information and communication technologies for work has facilitated flexible work arrangements, such as “online-type-employment”, so-called telework, which offer potential benefits to both employees and employers. At the same time, they also pose important risks, particularly in terms of working conditions, workers’ health and safety, as well as the work-life balance.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, evidence showed that a sizeable proportion of employees and employers have a preference for hybrid working arrangements, that combine telework with on-site work.
In January 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution with recommendations to the Commission on the right to disconnect. The resolution called on the Commission to present a legislative proposal on the right to disconnect, as well as an EU legislative framework for telework. Specifically, the resolution highlighted the fundamental role of social partners in identifying and implementing measures addressing the challenges of digitalisation, telework and the right to disconnect.
In light of this policy background, in 2022, the European Commission commissioned this study, as one of the follow-up actions to the European Parliament’s resolution. The objective of the study was to gather evidence and to better understand the challenges, opportunities and trends in relation to the flexibility of working time and work location, with a focus on telework and the right to disconnect.
Source and citations from: https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/study-social-economic-and-legal-context-and-trends-telework-and-right-disconnect-context_en
Social partners’ view
The Commission’s presented idea is to gather EU social partner’s views on a potential EU-level initiative to reduce the risks of the ‘always-on’ work culture and to ensure fair and quality telework for workers.
Concretely, social partners are invited to share their views on: – workers’ right to disconnect; – fair and quality telework, including non-discrimination, access to equipment, data protection and monitoring; and – occupational safety and health.
Note. The EU social partners are the bodies representing the two sides of the employment sector: i.e. employers and the employees. The only organisation authorised to speak on behalf of workers and their representatives at European level is the European Trade Union Confederation, ETUC. On the employers’ side there are three organisations: BUSINESSEUROPE (private firms), UEAPME (small businesses) and CEEP (public employers).
Source: https://www.etuc.org/en/who-are-european-social-partners
The European social partners also meet with heads of government and the Commission President at the annual Tripartite Social Summit each spring, to monitor progress on the EU-wide political agendas for economic growth and social cohesion.
The ETUC aims to ensure that the EU is not just a single market for goods and services, but is also a Social Europe, where improving the wellbeing of workers and their families is an equally important priority. The European social model – until the onset of the crisis – helped Europe to become a prosperous, competitive region with high living standards. Source and citation from: https://www.etuc.org/en/aims-and-priorities
This consultation among the social partners follows the European Parliament’s first call for action in 2021 on the right to disconnect and remote work. It is also in line with President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, where she announced a new Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including initiatives on AI management, telework and mental health.
In 2024, the Commission published a study exploring the social, economic and legal aspects of telework and the right to disconnect, in the context of digitalisation and post-COVID-19 trends. This study builds on extensive input from national administrations, social partners, experts and academia, and will feed into the preparation of EU action alongside the results of the present consultation.
Nowadays, the Commission presented the second study to further analyse the added value and impacts of potential EU-wide “social actions”.
Commission’s comment
“Digital technologies have transformed the way we work with a significant increase in the number of people teleworking. To ensure fair conditions for telework and protect workers’ rights, including the right to disconnect, social dialogue is essential. The input of workers and employers is key to addressing the challenges such as blurred work-life boundaries. With this second-stage consultation, we aim to shape EU action that protects workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance, while helping businesses make the most of digital opportunities”.
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness.
Reference and citation from: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/da/ip_25_1907
Digital technology for workers’ rights
Digital tools provide both workers and employers with more flexibility in organising work, allowing for greater autonomy and innovative ways of working. Increased flexibility can also contribute to a better work-life balance.
However, digital tools have also contributed to an ‘always-on’ work culture, where working anytime can become an expectation. This has led to increasing calls for a right to disconnect and safeguards to ensure that digitalisation does not weaken workers’ rights.
This second-stage consultation follows a first-stage consultation held from April to June 2024. Social partners are invited to respond by 6 October 2025. Following this consultation, social partners may launch negotiations among themselves. Alternatively, the Commission will analyse the feedback and will consider action at EU level, in full respect of national competencies.
More information in the following websites: = Consultation document: second-phase consultation of social partners; = Analytical document accompanying the second-stage consultation; = Study on telework and the right to disconnect.