Teleworking: legislation is needed to protect the right to disconnect from work

Statement by Andros Kafkalias, AKEL MP and Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance after the Committee’s meeting

6 September 2022

The issue of teleworking and remote working was first discussed in October 2021, on the initiative of AKEL.

At that time, the relevant Ministry had informed us that a dialogue had begun with stakeholders to formulate a legislative framework for the implementation of teleworking.

Unfortunately, today, a year later, we have been informed that the bill in question is still at the Legal Service for a legislative technical scrutiny and is expected to be submitted around the end of the year. This is an important issue, the legislative regulation of which is deemed necessary. We note that other EU countries have already approved legislation on teleworking.

The ever-increasing use of teleworking has led to an imposed culture of constant connection and uninterrupted operation and may have a horizontal negative impact on the fundamental rights of working people, fair working conditions and the work-life balance. At the same time, it has a negative impact on physical and mental health and safety at work, introducing a new dimension by deregulating labour relations and, given its disproportionate impact on workers with care responsibilities, who are generally women, on equality between men and women.

Bearing all of the above in mind, we expect the executive power to table a bill as soon as possible that will regulate and safeguard the rights of workers and employers. First and foremost, the right to detachment from work.