Workers deserve a real right to work from home now – Wall
Workers deserve a real right to work from home now – Wall - The Labour Party
- May Day call for modern work laws
Labour’s social protection spokesperson Deputy Mark Wall has today marked May Day by calling on Government to implement Labour’s work from home legislation, warning that Ireland’s laws are out of step with how people live and work and urging immediate action to deliver an enforceable right to remote work where roles allow.
Deputy Mark Wall said:
“On May Day, a day that celebrates workers’ rights, it is unacceptable that Ireland’s remote working framework is built for a world that no longer exists. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have hardwired hesitation, delay and employer vetoes into legislation, leaving workers with flexibility in name only. Our Bill would change that by introducing a real, enforceable right to work from home where the job allows.
“Ireland’s world of work has changed fundamentally, but our laws have not kept pace. What we have now is a system that talks about modern work while quietly forcing people back into habits that no longer make sense. Workers are being told they have flexibility, but in reality employers hold all the power. That is not balance, it is a rollback of progress.
“We know the benefits of flexible working. It has opened up opportunities for carers, people with disabilities and those living outside major cities. For many, it is the difference between being able to work and being excluded entirely. Yet instead of building on this progress, we are seeing a push to reverse it. There is no credible evidence that dragging people back into offices improves performance. What it does is increase stress, reduce retention and make life harder for people already under pressure from housing costs, childcare and long commutes.
“In the middle of a cost of living crisis, this approach makes no sense. Workers are being forced to spend more on fuel and transport to sit at a desk they could access from home. Every unnecessary commute adds to the pressure on household budgets.
“Crucially, this is a measure that costs Government nothing. It does not require complex schemes or new spending. It simply requires political will. At a time when people are struggling with rising bills, Government should be backing solutions that make life easier, not harder. Government must lead by example by giving civil and public servants a real right to flexible and hybrid work where possible.
“Government must stop pretending the current system works. It does not. It protects employer vetoes and leaves workers exposed. Labour’s legislation offers a clear, fair and modern alternative that reflects how people actually live and work today.
“On this May Day, Government must choose to stand with workers, support Labour’s Bill and finally bring Ireland’s labour laws into the real world. Workers deserve certainty, dignity and control over how they work, and they deserve it now.”