Following the request from the Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) adopted a Code of Practice on the Right to Request Flexible Working and Remote Working, as per the Workplace Relations Act 2015 and the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.
WRC consulted with various stakeholders, including trade unions, employer representative bodies, and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, aiming to provide a practical guide for employers and employees on implementing flexible and remote working arrangements, fostering a more inclusive, adaptable, and satisfying work environment.
On 11 March 2024, European Union (EU) employment and social affairs ministers confirmed the provisional agreement on the platform work directive reached on 8 February 2024 between the Council's presidency and the European Parliament's negotiators.
The agreement sets a precedent for regulating algorithmic management and ensuring fair labour practices in the digital labour market.
Employers in the public and private sectors who leverage computer programmes and cloud-based services to manage employee emails are now restricted to retaining the metadata of these emails for a maximum of seven days. An extension of up to 48 hours may be granted in cases of proven necessity.
It poses potential challenges for companies in terms of compliance and operational flexibility.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently released, on January 2024, the Law and Practise report in the emerging field of digital labour platforms and their impact in the World of Work.
The Law and Practise report (known as White Report), is intended to inform the discussions at the 2025-2026 Standard Setting on Platform Economy and to help Member States in responding to the appended questionnaire.
The inputs and responses provided by the Member States will set the base for the Yellow Report, which will be the draft report discussed in the first sitting of the Platform Economy Standard Setting in 2025.
On 22 December 2023, member states’ failed to find a majority over the platform work directive deal negotiated with the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The negotiation for an agreement on the directive on platform work will continue under the Belgian Presidency as of 1 January 2024.