Landmark deal to be agreed for teleworkers

Date: 26/04/01

By John Shelley

BUSINESSES and workers in the industry which is Europe's biggest employer have agreed on rules to guarantee minimum workplace standards for staff based at home.

Social Affairs Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou is set to attend today (26 April) the signing of a landmark deal for teleworkers between employers' groups and trade unions in the commerce field.

The sector, which includes retail and wholesale companies, employs more than 23.5 million people across the EU.

The deal, which comes hot on the heels of similar rules agreed earlier this year for the telecoms industry, will guarantee employees who use computers and telephones to work from home the same health and safety and trade union rights as office-bound staff.

In return, teleworkers must promise to respect the normal rules of confidentiality and to ensure that equipment paid for by the firm is used only for their job.

The social affairs chief has welcomed the move. "We are delighted the commerce sector has come forward with this agreement," said Diamontopoulou's spokesman Andrew Fielding. "This sends a strong message to other business sectors to do likewise."

Businesses and workers in the industry which is Europe's biggest employer have agreed on rules to guarantee minimum workplace standards for staff based at home.