Rapid growth but few rules

Citation

(2003), "Rapid growth but few rules", Work Study, Vol. 52 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2003.07952caf.004

Rapid growth but few rules

Despite the rapid expansion of telework, its national regulation is patchy so far. Italy is the only member state with legislation, covering the civil service. Ireland drew up a code of conduct in 1998, and collective agreements exist only for a few sectors and in some countries.

In addition to safeguards, practical incentives are also essential to promote telework, as highlighted in the recent report on information society jobs issued by ESDIS, a high level group advising the Commission. Best practices include fiscal incentives in The Netherlands, online advice and recruitment services for teleworkers in Germany, and the use of telework to integrate people with disabilities in Portugal. Good technical infrastructure is clearly a pre-requisite, and EU countries are offering more and more high speed Internet links and well equipped "telecentres".

Reports of the high level group on the employment and social dimension of the information society (ESDIS) are available at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-dial/info_soc/esdis/documents.htm