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DIGITAL DISCONNECTION LAW IN FAVOR OF THE RIGHTS OF TELEWORKERS
[/vc_column_text][us_separator][vc_column_text] In a globalized world where new technologies reign and new means and modalities of communication and work emerge, such as teleworking, which gained strength as a result of the pandemic, it is necessary to have regulations that guarantee not only the exercise of the functions of collaborators, but also ensure their rights. Last Thursday, March 10, legislative file 22230, called "Reform of section D) article 9 of Law 9738, Law to Regulate Teleworking, to Guarantee the Disconnection of Workers from Work", was approved in second debate. This Law, by adding a paragraph to article 9, subsection D) of the Law Regulating Teleworking, establishes: "(…) Without prejudice to the provisions of the preceding paragraph and in order to guarantee respect for their rest time, vacations, permits, and personal and family privacy, teleworkers shall have the right to digital disconnection outside of established working hours or schedules, except in unforeseen and urgent situations, in which their consent is required." In recent years, talking about mental health has become normal, and this applies not only to individuals' private lives but also to the workplace. Workers also suffer from work-related stress, for example, "burnout syndrome" or "burned-out worker syndrome," which has been recognized as an occupational disease by the World Health Organization. Therefore, it is necessary to guarantee workers' right to leisure time, allowing them to disconnect from their work once their workday has ended, thus creating a work-life balance for teleworking employees. For employers, disconnecting from work represents respecting the end of their workday. It is the act of disconnecting from the work environment: phone calls, emails, messages, meetings outside of work hours. It is not limited to the workday itself; it also applies to vacations, permits, licenses, and sick leave. Ultimately, it represents a major advance in labor matters, as it raises employers' awareness of the importance of respecting workers' leisure time. This concept has been recognized in European countries, such as Spain and France; however, it has been little explored in Latin America. With this new law, Costa Rica is definitely taking a major step forward for workers' rights. [/vc_column_text][us_separator][vc_column_text]Written by: Licda. Alexa Narváez [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
