Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

19Annex I: Progress in Establishing Framework Agreements for TeleworkHeads <strong>of</strong> State are committed in the eEurope Action Plan to support telework through agreementsby Social Partners. In December 2000 the <strong>European</strong> Social partners (UNICE, ETUC, UEAPMEand the CEEP) agreed in principle to discuss an agreement. In March 2001, the Commissionformally requested them to establish general framework provisions at Community level 2 ; andHeads <strong>of</strong> State in Stockholm looked forward to a positive outcome <strong>of</strong> these discussions 3 .The Commission has proposed a wide definition <strong>of</strong> telework as “a method <strong>of</strong> organising and/orperforming work in which a considerable proportion <strong>of</strong> an employee’s working time is : away fromthe firm’s premises or where the output is delivered; and when work is done using informationtechnology and technology for data transmission, in particular the Internet”. This covers teleworkat home; alternation between work in the firm’s <strong>of</strong>fice and at home; mobile telework, and work inlocal telework centres.The Commission has proposed the following general principles: Voluntary participation and theright <strong>of</strong> return to “normal working”; maintenance <strong>of</strong> employee status; equality <strong>of</strong> treatment;adequate information on assignments and working conditions; coverage <strong>of</strong> costs by the employer;a guarantee <strong>of</strong> specific training; health and safety provisions; respect for working time; protection<strong>of</strong> privacy and personal data; contact with colleagues; collective rights, and equal opportunities.Trade unions, employers and small business associations have been active at the national andsectorial levels in developing agreements on flexible working to the benefit <strong>of</strong> both employers andemployees. The first such agreement covers most <strong>of</strong> the Danish workforce and has contributed tomaking Denmark the telework leader in Europe. The Irish Code <strong>of</strong> Practice for e-Work is also amajor reference and encouragement. It well deserved the <strong>European</strong> e-Work Award for excellencein November 2000.2COM (2001) 7243www.europa.eu.int/council/<strong>of</strong>f/conclu