The minimum cost that the employer must cover when providing telework has been determined by the Announcement of 23/11/2021 by the Press Office of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs in application of Law 4804/2021 par. 4 of Article 67: “When teleworking, the employer shall bear the costs caused to the employee by this form of work, namely the cost of equipment, unless it is agreed to use the employee’s equipment, telecommunications, maintenance of equipment and repair of damage.” Specifically, according to the notice, the minimum cost on a monthly basis was set at:
- For the use of a home workplace, the amount of 13€.
- For communications, the amount of €10 (this amount is not paid if the user covers the relevant costs directly, through a separate contract with the network provider – mobile and fixed telephony)
- For equipment maintenance, the amount of 5€ (this amount is not paid if the telework is provided with equipment provided by the employer).
There is a specific provision in the decision for teleworking for less than twenty-two (22) days per month due to the provision of work with physical presence, leave, strike, etc. In this case, one twenty-second (1/22) of the applicable costs shall be paid per working day.
It is further stipulated that the above allowance may not be paid in lieu of remuneration as it is an expense under Article 67 of the aforesaid law and compliance with this provision shall be subject to control by the competent authorities.
The above-mentioned notice, which you can read here, sets out more clearly the minimum cost threshold for this new flexible form of work, which is being chosen by an increasing number of employers.
