Study finds low use of 'telework'

Research by the Training and Employment Corporation (ETC) shows that out of 1,118 employers only 43 (3.8 per cent) practice some form of "telework", the ETC said.

Telework is a method of organising and performing work in which a considerable proportion of an employee's working time is spent away from the firm's premises or from where the output is delivered.

The research was conducted by Marie Avellino on behalf of the Gender Equality Unit at ETC.

The ETC has published a leaflet with a summary of the research results on the benefits of telework and some local and international examples of good practices in the area of teleworking.

Soft copies of the brochure can be obtained by e-mailing luciennep@etc.org.mt.

The average percentage of European workers using telework is around 13 per cent, while in Sweden, 30 per cent of micro enterprises and 87 per cent of larger companies practice telework with their employees.

In The Netherlands, 86 per cent of workers in companies employing less than 19 employees work from home.