Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
172. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if his attention has been drawn to the agreement reached by the Spanish Government to trial a four-day working week under a small pilot project; if his Department is examining the matter and the possibility of introducing a similar pilot project here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16443/21]
View answerMy Department and I understand the importance of flexible working, which can encompass a wide variety of practices, including part-time, job sharing, remote working and compressed hours. Such solutions allow for tangible benefits for employees including improving their work/life balance. Flexible working also assists in the development of an inclusive society.
My Department has not conducted research on the impact of moving to a four-day week, and it is not something I am currently considering. There is a large volume of work already underway on the topic of flexible working in my Department and across other Government departments. This was reflected in Pillar 4 of Future Jobs Ireland, which included a number of key deliverables with the objective of fostering participation in the labour force through flexible working solutions.
On 15th January 2021, Ireland’s first National Remote Work Strategy to make remote working a permanent option for life after the pandemic was published. The Strategy is built on three fundamental pillars:
1. Create a Conducive Environment
2. Develop and Leverage Remote Work Infrastructure
3. Build a Remote Work Policy and Guidance Framework
In the context of Pillar 1, I committed to legislate to provide employees with the right to request remote work. To inform this new legislation I am launching a 5 week public consultation very shortly and I encourage employers and employees alike to engage with this consultation and make their views known.
The forthcoming Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect will apply to all types of employment. I asked the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC to develop this Code as it will help employees, no matter what their job is, to strike a better work-life balance and switch off from work outside of their normal working hours. Because the Code is flexible, employees will have more options to work outside of traditional hours. It also reflects the fact that many employees are part of a global network, requiring contact with colleagues around the world.
