Outlining the draft legislation, Family and Social Policy Minister Marlena Maląg said on Tuesday: “We need changes in the labour market, mainly based on the introduction of flexible working hours.”
Speaking in an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, she added: “The pandemic has shown that working from home is effective. It enabled the economy to function normally.”
Maląg told Polish Radio that teleworking was until now regulated by special COVID-19 laws. “Now we want to include it in the Labour Code,” she said.
She announced that the new bill had been "agreed on with social partners" and was now in the lower house of parliament for deliberation, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Teleworking bill
Under the draft legislation, teleworking is defined as work performed by the employee partly or entirely in a place of their choosing, agreed on with the employer, officials said.
Under the bill, the employer will be obliged to provide the teleworker with "necessary work materials and tools," including equipment.
Also, the employer will be obliged to cover the direct costs of teleworking, if internal regulations so provide, the PAP news agency reported.
Telework is set to be a guaranteed option for most female employees who are pregnant, as well as for those who have a child of up to four years of age or a child with disability, officials said.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, polskieradio24.pl