BEERG Newsletter - Europe: Commitment to negotiating “right to disconnect” agreement

European trade unions and employers have signed a “work programme”, including a commitment to negotiate a legally binding agreement on ‘Telework and right to disconnect’. The Work Programme 2022-24 consists of 6 joint actions:

Telework and right to disconnect: Review and update the 2002 Autonomous Agreement on Telework to be put forward for adoption as a legally binding agreement implemented via a Directive.

Green Transition: A framework of actions to ensure that a just transition, with appropriate public funding and investments, creates quality jobs and supports enterprises and workers adapting to change.

Youth employment: A joint seminar and statement following up on the ‘Framework of Actions on Youth Employment’ to explore best practices, challenges and tools to facilitate youth employment.

Work related privacy and surveillance: Joint seminar and guidelines on workplace monitoring and surveillance technologies to exchange views on the trends and their relevance for social partners and collective bargaining at all appropriate levels across Europe.

Improving skills matching in Europe: A seminar followed by a joint research project on effective access to training, social partners’ involvement in skills intelligence, and addressing skills mismatches and skills shortages.  

Capacity building: A joint project to review the effectiveness of capacity building projects and identify obstacles to implementing existing social partner autonomous framework agreements.  

Commenting on the Work Programme, BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: “Social dialogue has a fundamental role to play in making our labour markets more productive, competitive and resilient. This work programme demonstrates a shared endeavour and commitment in times of rapid labour market change.”

ETUC Deputy General Secretary Esther Lynch said: “Agreeing to negotiate an EU Directive on Telework and the right to disconnect is good news for employers and workers alike. It shows that where there is a will, even the most difficult issues can be resolved by constructive negotiations.”