From 24 to 27 September 2025 took place in Predeal / Romania a seminar about “Remote workers and their rights for safe and healthy work”, organized by IFES (Institutul de Formare Economică şi Socială), in cooperation with EZA and funded by the European Union. 53 representatives of workers’ organizations from Lithuania, Albania, Italy, Germany, Republic of Moldavia and Romania participated in the seminar.
There were two remote speakers from Spain (EU-OSHA) and Italy (University of Cassino).
The aims of the seminar were to analyse the state of legislation in the field of safety and health at work for remote workers. A first aspect taken into account was the national and the European legislation. The perspective of the interested parties was listened: especially employees, employers and the labour inspection. The conclusions of these perspectives were that the legislation in force is actual and can be improved in some very specific situation.
A key question of the seminar was the invitation to the participants to seek an answer and solutions in regard the way in which trade union organizations are involved in these cases, how widespread trade unionism is in this category of employees and how this problem will be addressed in the future.
A real rich contribution to this point came from the participants being members of the Federation of the trade unions from IT&C. They are used to work in a remote way, they are aware of the legal provisions and have experience in dealing with the employers (most of them multinational companies, world brands).
The seminar program included two short trips during which the participants could meet members of the National Federation of Trade Unions in Culture and the Press “CULTURMEDIA”. The topic was the teleworking in the culture and media branch. The second one was with the council of the Brasov branch of the NTU „Cartel Alfa“ Brasov, with discussion about the relation with the local authorities in regard the remote workers.
Conclusions
Some legal provisions must be updated. It is a topic for thesocial dialogue and the trade unions must prepare for this
The trade unions, the authorities and the employers must work together for the education of teleworkers who shall be aware of the risks for their health if they have no knowledge about the correct working conditions.
The education for the personal safeguarding of health and safety must begin in school time.
The problems in regard the health and safety of teleworkers are the same in all represented countries and therefore, trade unions shall cooperate for an adequate and coherent action.
The authorities must be better organized in informing and watching the effectrive application of the law.