Twenty Years of EU Agreements on Remote Work from 2002 to 2022. What next?

Abstract

Digitalisation is changing our lives and the way we work too. This is not necessarily negative because there is a lot of potential in the binomial “work and technology”, starting from the creation of new sectors of work up to the introduction of new job opportunities thanks to technological tools. Moreover, the huge contribution made by technology to the world of work has been very useful during the health emergency caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, all that glitters is not gold. There are numerous and insidious physical and psychosocial risks involved in digitalisation. In light of the above, this paper aims at highlighting the key role played by the European social partners in stipulating relevant framework agreements on the matter. As provided for by art. 155 TFEU, they are called to co-design with the European Commission and national governments balanced measures to create an enabling environment for enterprises and better living and working conditions.