The government issued an order, published today in the Diário da República, clarifying that teleworking in public administration is incompatible with work that directly helps the public.
“In order to clear up possible misunderstandings, in connection with the organization of work in the public administration, the incompatibility between the introduction of a teleworking regulation and the service-related functions must be pointed out,” says the order signed by several members of the government.
In the document, the executive first points out that the measures to contain the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been “adapted taking into account the development of the respective extent and the risks of spread” and notes that the resolution of the Council of Ministers of 30 July which states that teleworking is recommended whenever activities permit.
The government also recalls that in October 2020 the guidelines for public administration in the context of the pandemic were set, which already provided that “only all functions which can be carried out outside the workplace and through teleworking are considered compatible with teleworking , for example the use of communication technologies ”.
Now the government has decided to clarify these guidelines by stating that “the provision of public service work is included in cases where it is inseparable from the worker’s physical presence at work and is incompatible with teleworking “. reads the broadcast. The order, signed by Deputy State and Finance Ministers António Mendonça Mendes, Justice, Anabela Pedroso, Public Administration, José Couto, and Social Security, Gabriel Bastos, was criticized by the State Technical Personnel Union (STE). “The mandate is completely redundant as the services and directors have already been advised and this reading was up to them,” said STE President Helena Rodrigues to Lusa.
The union leader believes the government is “arranging a scapegoat to justify the main problem, the public sector staff shortage.” The greater prosperity of public services “is a situation that repeats itself every year during the summer holidays,” says Helena Rodrigues. “What we do not even want to admit is that the burden of the worst functioning of the services rests on the workers and the well-known maneuver of inciting citizens against citizens is being used,” the STE said in a statement.
