government plans fines for recalcitrant companies

Faced with the observation that ” some companies remain resistant ” the implementation of teleworking, made compulsory “When possible” to cope with the pandemic, the government wants to be able to crack down with administrative fines, the labor minister, Elisabeth Borne, announced to the social partners during a videoconference on Tuesday, December 28.

The Minister did not specify what the amount of the fines could be, this question being arbitrated.

In the new version of the national company protocol, which must be published by Thursday, will include a “Obligation to telework three days a week on average for positions which allow it, for three weeks, from 3 January”, as announced Monday the Prime Minister, Jean Castex. In addition, “Companies which can do so are asked to go further and increase teleworking to four days a week when possible”, specifies the Ministry of Labor.

A long-standing wish of labor inspectors

As the latter has repeatedly pointed out, the“Obligation” implementation of telework stems from the need for the employer to ensure the health of its employees, enshrined in the labor code, even if its concrete translation in each company is the responsibility of company management, if possible within the framework of the social dialogue.

Read also Article reserved for our subscribers Telework, a subject of tension as Christmas approaches: “My boss is ostrich, he refuses to see the curves go up”

The CGT-TEFP, the first union of labor inspection agents, has long called for a tightening of the legal framework concerning teleworking, denouncing the weakness of the penalties incurred and the lack of staff to control companies. Moreover, the implementation of the penal sanctions currently foreseen takes time, which makes them less dissuasive.

The World with AFP

source site-30