Government must wake up to remote working opportunities
Government must wake up to remote working opportunities - The Labour Party
Labour’s enterprise spokesperson George Lawlor TD has urged Government to go back to the drawing board on the code of practice on remote working.
Following a call from the trade union Fórsa to the Department of Public Expenditure to support remote working options for civil servants in light of the fuel crisis, Deputy Lawlor said Government needs to better support those who can work from home to do so.
Deputy Lawlor said:
“I’m calling on Government to make a clear plea to business to let commuters work from home as the cost of fuel continues to rise. When it comes to the real crisis facing commuters across the country, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have been found lacking. The State should be leading from the front, and the Labour Party is backing Fórsa’s call for civil servants to be empowered to work from home where possible.
“This is the most anti-worker Government, it is a Government that has failed to wake up to the reality of working in the 21st century. The Labour Party is clear – anyone who can work from home should be empowered and supported to do so through a real right to remote and flexible work.
“Fórsa has rightly called on the State to lead by example through enabling civil service staff to work from home in light of the fuel crisis. The Labour Party has consistently highlighted the real difficulty commuters are facing traveling to and from the office. Hours are being lost in traffic, and now with the increases in fuel prices commuters are getting stung by the clock and in the pocket.
“Remote working has proven benefits for workers, for families and for the wider economy. It reduces commuting costs and eases pressure on transport networks. Yet too many workers are now being required to return to the office without justification, increasing their daily costs and adding to congestion.
“We are also calling for a 10% cut in public transport fares to provide real and immediate relief to those who rely on buses, trains and Luas services every day and the suspension of future toll hikes, as was done in 2022. Public transport must be a viable and affordable alternative to driving, particularly at a time when fuel prices are volatile and household budgets are under severe strain.
“Government must lead by example. There should be a renewed and clear mandate across the civil and public service to support working from home wherever roles allow. By doing so, Government can set the standard for the private sector and ensure that workers are not penalised by being forced into costly daily commutes. Instead of outright opposition to Labour’s remote work legislation, we need government to work with us on it.”