Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise and Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, said:

“The decision by Amazon to force employees back into the office five days a week is a step backwards and disregards the progress made on flexible working during the pandemic. Thousands of workers successfully transitioned to remote working during the crisis, and many have thrived in this new environment, as it allowed for a better work-life balance. For Amazon to now undermine these gains is both short-sighted and risks being detrimental to the well-being of its employees.”

O’Reilly pointed out that this underlines the government’s failure to legislate to facilitate greater and more equitable access to remote working.  sinn Féin have long advocated strengthening protections for workers working remotely. 

“Recent WRC Cases show the weakness of the code of practice when it comes to accessing remote work and it is clear that more needs to be done. The government must ensure that companies honour these rights and respect workers’ needs. The pandemic showed us that remote working is not just feasible but also can be beneficial for employees’ mental health, family life, and productivity. The government should now take a stand and demand that companies respect these rights.”

O’Reilly pointed out the broader implications of this decision, particularly in relation to the Irish government’s commitment to advancing flexible and remote work options:

“This is a backwards step and should serve as a wake up call to the government.”

Sinn Féin has long called for the introduction of stronger safeguards and more comprehensive legislation around remote working. The Fingal TD stressed the need for agreements between workers and employers, ensuring that flexible working is protected. She also reiterated her previous calls for the creation of community-based hubs to support remote workers across the country.

“Remote working has allowed employees more control over their work-life balance, and this must not be stripped away. We have the tools and the technology to ensure a balanced and productive workforce. It is essential that we move forward, not backward, when it comes to flexible working.”