German minister backs creating legal right to work from home

Germany's labour minister wants to enshrine into law the right to work from home if it is feasible to do so, even after the coronavirus pandemic subsides.

Labor Minister Hubertus Heil told Sunday's edition of the Bild am Sonntag newspaper that he aims to put forward such legislation this fall.

He said initial estimates suggest the proportion of the work force working from home has risen from 12 per cent to 25 per cent during the virus crisis, to around 8 million people.

"Everyone who wants to and whose job allows it should be able to work in a home office, even when the corona pandemic is over," Heil was quoted as saying.

"We are learning in the pandemic how much work can be done from home these days."
Heil stressed that "we want to enable more home working, but not force it."