EU Opens Second-Stage Talks on Right to Disconnect and Fair Telework
Work News | New Stardom
European Commission press conference presenting national and regional partnership plans for 2028–2034, highlighting cohesion, agriculture, and social priorities in the new EU budget.
Photo: Xavier Lejeune / European Commission Audiovisual Service
BRUSSELS -The European Commission has launched a second round of consultations with EU social partners on creating stronger protections for workers in the digital era, including a right to disconnect and clearer rules for fair telework.
The talks, announced on 25 July, will gather input from trade unions and employer groups on potential EU-level measures aimed at curbing the “always-on” work culture and ensuring equitable conditions for remote workers.
Key issues under discussion include workers’ ability to disconnect outside normal hours, safeguards for occupational safety and health, and access to equipment and data protections for teleworkers.
Telework has more than doubled in the EU since 2019, with one in five Europeans now working from home at least part of the time. The Commission argues that while digital tools offer flexibility and autonomy, they also blur work-life boundaries and raise concerns over employee wellbeing.
Following the consultation, social partners may enter negotiations to draft their own agreement. If no agreement is reached, the Commission could propose legislative action in line with the European Pillar of Social Rights and President von der Leyen’s 2024–2029 political guidelines.
“To ensure fair conditions for telework and protect workers’ rights, including the right to disconnect, social dialogue is essential,” said Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills.
The consultation follows a first round held in 2024 and will remain open until 6 October 2025.
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