Poland: remote work now regulated by law National legislation With France set to take over the rotating European Union Council Presidency in the coming months, Nicolas Schmit, the European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights, made a trip to Paris to meet with meet ministers and social partners. Interviewed by members of the association of social news journalists (AJIS) on Friday 17 September, Schmit gave an update on the EU’s plans in the social sphere: minimum wages, vocational training, platforms and regulation of remote work. According to the Commissioner, these plans are in keeping with the ambitions of the von der Leyen Commission for a “strong social Europe”.
Brazil: telework now entering in the Labor Code National legislation Law No. 14.442 of 02 September 2022 defines the concept of telework, which can be undertaken both inside and outside the country. The law specifies that an employee working remotely is not obliged to respect working hours but instead must carry out a certain number of tasks and report on his/her/their productivity. Teleworking employees are also entitled to luncheon vouchers, regardless of the number of days spent working remotely, and can now use them in any establishment.
Free The Netherlands: recognition of telework as a legal right National legislation On 05 July, the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer) approved an initiative bill geared towards making home working a legal right. This text,…
Free Poland: draft legislation proposed to combat alcoholism in the workplace and provide the basis for remote working National legislation On 07 June a bill amending the Labour Code was submitted to Poland’s lower house of Parliament (Sejm), which enables employers to utilise preventative means to curb employee alcoholism.…
Free Italy looking to attract ‘digital nomads’ National legislation Italy’s government intends to facilitate highly skilled non-EU workers looking to pursue their careers on Italian soil. A measure,…
Free Luxembourg: the government regulates telework National legislation On 16 March, Luxembourg’s Chamber of Deputies voted in favour of a bill that regulates the implementation of telework in companies. Businesses employing more than 150 staff will need to secure a telework agreement between the employer and the staff delegation.…
Free Ireland: employers can only decline remote working requests on business grounds National legislation On 25 January, the Irish government unveiled draft legislation giving employees with at least six months’ employment history the opportunity to request permission for remote working from their employers.…
Free Germany: the Minister of Labour wants to create a right to telework National legislation As the resurgence of Covid-19 and its Omicron variant makes teleworking once again mandatory in Germany for all employees for whom this form of working is possible,…
Spain: new metal sector collective agreement covers gender equality on pay and regulation of remote work National industrial relations The CCOO de Industria and UGT FICA trade unions and the employer federation Confemetal have ratified the fourth national collective agreement for industry, new technologies and services in the metal sector, which creates a framework for collective bargaining for a period of three years (2021 to 2023). The document, signed on 3 November, will serve as a guide for all branch or company negotiations and all regional agreements at provincial level.
Portugal: a new law to better regulate telework National legislation On 05 November 2021 the text amending the 2003 law on telework was approved and included a number of significant changes, including employer coverage of telework expenses, and the right to respect rest periods and holidays. The notion of an agreement between both parties (employer and employee) has been maintained and must be the subject of a written contract.
