Italian teleworkers gain equal rights

Unions and employers in Italy this month reached agreement on the rights of "teleworkers" (those who work at home or otherwise away from their employer's premises), giving effect to a Europe-wide agreement signed in July 2002.

The Italian agreement guarantees teleworkers exactly the same rights as workers employed on the employer's premises. This extends to pay and other collectively agreed conditions, rights to information and consultation, and health and safety protection. The way that work is organised depends on the individual worker to a greater extent than for a "normal" employee, but the amount of work should be equivalent.

The decision to move to tele-working should be voluntary on the part of both the employer and the employee, and issues such as the teleworker's responsibilities and the material to be supplied should be resolved before teleworking starts. The employer should adopt measures to avoid teleworkers being isolated, such as providing opportunities to meet colleagues and obtain information about company developments.

The 2002 European agreement was reached between the European Trade Union Confederation and the employers. Unlike similar agreements such as that on parental leave, it was to be implemented not by legislation but by collective agreements in individual member states.