Premiere in Romania: Work from home becomes regulated; Reaction of software association

The Parliament has vetted the draft bill that regulates telework so that employees will be able to work from another place outside the HQ. Companies will be able to update the contracts of full time employees that opt for this system.

The new contract form for teleworking had been approved by the government last summer.

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Telework is defined as the activity carried out from distance, regularly and voluntarily, thorough smartphones or different kinds of IT infrastructure. The telework has to be done at least one day per month and the employer has to agree with the work location chosen by the employee. For those working home, companies need to receive the agreement of the employee before making a visit.

The employee has patrimonial liability for the equipment or other material granted by the company for telework.

Valerica Dragomir, executive director of The Employers’ Association of Software and Services Industry (ANIS), welcomed the approval of the draft bill, adding that the association expects to see the version of the bill that got the green light from the MPs.

“We appreciate the regulation regarding the telework, it is an important component and a plus for employees in the area of flexibility,” Dragomir told BR.

She added that companies in the technology field already have flexible systems for workers as they have secure IT infrastructure that support the telework. Companies might, for instance, let employees to work one day from home each week. This trend is more visible in the case of tech companies.

The ANIS head said the further updates are needed to link the telework legislation with employee attendance registries that are not fully digitalized on the local labor market.

ANIS was consulted when the telework draft bill was initiated.