Communiqués de presse, 18 août 2003
New EIRO comparative report: New technology and the respect for privacy at the workplace
TIME FOR EUROPEAN-LEVEL WORKPLACE PRIVACY REGULATION
The use of new information and communication technologies (ICT) at the workplace has increased rapidly in recent years, highlighting the need to address issues of workers' privacy and employers' need to control and monitor the use of ICT at European level.
The latest comparative report from the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) examines one specific issue raised by the growth of ICT at work, the relationship between internet/e-mail use at work and respect for workers' privacy. It highlights the need for clear regulation at European level by mapping and comparing the differences in existing European and national law on workplace privacy, and it offers the views of the social partners.
While the European Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and national data protection legislation clearly spell out the privacy rights of the individual, the rules and regulations governing privacy at the workplace is based on a confusing web of guidelines and individual agreements at company level, often compromising either the individual worker’s or the employers’ rights.
The dangers of conflicting interests on either side of the employment relationship have grown sharply over the last few years, given the increased use of ICT at the workplace and at all stages in enterprises' activities. To what extent may a worker use ICT equipment for private reasons given that a general, absolute ban on any use of the internet for other than professional reasons does not appear realistic in an information/communication society?
Read the full comparative report on www.eurofound.europa.eu/eiro/2003/07/study/TN0307101S.html.
Note aux éditeurs
La Fondation européenne pour l'amélioration des conditions de vie et de
travail est une organisation tripartite de l'UE, dont le rôle est de proposer
des résultats, des connaissances et des conseils, qui s'inspirent d'une
recherche effectuée de manière comparative, aux acteurs clés pour la prise
de décision politique au niveau social. La Fondation a été créée par le
règlement (CEE) n° 1365/75 du 26 mai 1975 du Conseil. L'Observatoire européen
des relations industrielles (EIRO) est un service web en ligne qui surveille
les relations industrielles dans tous les États membres de l’UE, la Norvège
et, actuellement, quatre pays candidats à l'adhésion (la Hongrie, la Pologne,
la Slovénie et la Slovaquie). De plus amples renseignements sur la Fondation
sont disponibles à l'adresse suivante.