Labour’s social protection spokesperson Mark Wall has today marked May Day by calling on Government to implement Labour’s work from home legislation, warning that Ireland’s laws are “out of step with how people live and work” and urging “immediate action” to deliver an enforceable right to remote work where roles allow.
The Kildare TD said, “on May Day, a day that celebrates workers’ rights, it is unacceptable that Ireland’s remote working framework is built for a world that no longer exists.”
“Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have hardwired hesitation, delay and employer vetoes into legislation, leaving workers with flexibility in name only. Our Bill would change that by introducing a real, enforceable right to work from home where the job allows.”
Wall said “Ireland’s world of work has changed fundamentally, but our laws have not kept pace. What we have now is a system that talks about modern work while quietly forcing people back into habits that no longer make sense. Workers are being told they have flexibility, but in reality employers hold all the power. That is not balance, it is a rollback of progress.”
“We know the benefits of flexible working. It has opened up opportunities for carers, people with disabilities and those living outside major cities. For many, it is the difference between being able to work and being excluded entirely. Yet instead of building on this progress, we are seeing a push to reverse it. There is no credible evidence that dragging people back into offices improves performance. What it does is increase stress, reduce retention and make life harder for people already under pressure from housing costs, childcare and long commutes.
Wall noted “in the middle of a cost of living crisis, this approach makes no sense. Workers are being forced to spend more on fuel and transport to sit at a desk they could access from home. Every unnecessary commute adds to the pressure on household budgets.”
“Crucially, this is a measure that costs the government nothing. It does not require complex schemes or new spending. It simply requires political will. At a time when people are struggling with rising bills, the government should be backing solutions that make life easier, not harder. The government must lead by example by giving civil and public servants a real right to flexible and hybrid work where possible.
“The government must stop pretending the current system works. It does not. It protects employer vetoes and leaves workers exposed. Labour’s legislation offers a clear, fair and modern alternative that reflects how people actually live and work today.
“On this May Day, the government must choose to stand with workers, support Labour’s Bill and finally bring Ireland’s labour laws into the real world. Workers deserve certainty, dignity and control over how they work, and they deserve it now.”