EU: IndustriAll Europe launches a campaign to reposition the worker’s choice at the heart of telework

23 February is the launch date for IndustriAll Europe’s ‘Telework: my right, my decision’ campaign, which is highlighting the need for telework to be regulated. The European Industry Union Federation believes collective bargaining is best placed to guarantee teleworking conditions, which are also beneficial for workers. Unregulated telework would, on the other hand, lead to infringements of employees’ rights with the potential for overwork, remote monitoring of digital tools, and even additional burdens for female workers who tend to undertake more household chores and childcare than men. To prevent these risks, IndustriAll Europe is calling for national legislation and collective agreements to recognize the right to disconnect and privacy, the creation of a telework allowance to be paid by employers, and the maintenance of the same rights as all other workers, particularly with regard to working hours, training, and trade union rights. “With our campaign we intend to highlight positive and negative aspects of teleworking for workers and promote the regulation of telework,” explains Isabelle Barthès, Deputy General Secretary at IndustriAll Europe, before continuing, “Only by regulating telework can we ensure that the advantages prevail and drawbacks are minimised. Collective bargaining at all levels will be key to ensure a worker-friendly telework option.”