Teleworking was one of the main measures used back in March, April, and May to restrict transmission of Covid-19. 

It is a measure which probably would have garnered some scepticism initially, especially given uncertainties as to how it may affect productivity.  However, as the early stages of the pandemic subsided, it became clear that the measure had been largely positive.

Minister within the Office of the Prime Minister Carmelo Abela recognised this and suggested a national policy on remote working in both the public and private sector, while other stakeholders have similarly supported calls for wider introduction to it.

Indeed, the UĦM - Voice for the Workers said last June that we would have learned nothing from the experience if teleworking was not maintained.

However, once the pandemic did subside – at least temporarily, it became apparently that by and large, the Maltese and Gozitan workforce had returned to their office desks.

However now that Covid-19 has returned in what seems to be a much more prolonged period and definitely with much more extensive transmission, there hasn’t been any extensive movement to reinstate teleworking – even though teleworking never was fully removed.

It is a point which the PN spoke of this week, saying that the government needs push workers in both the private and public sector as a measure against Covid-19 and as a measure for the future too.

“We are appealing that the government should direct workers both in the public and private sector to work remotely immediately so as to reduce the number of people crowding together in the office and reduce the transmission of the virus,” said PN spokesperson for education and employment Clyde Puli.

Seeing the statistical evidence related to Covid-19, there are some numbers to support this.  Work transmission remains the biggest source of the virus after transmission between families, and with a high number of cases still being reported, everything needs to be done in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.

Indeed, the government has introduced measures when it comes to bars, clubs and the entertainment sector in general in an effort to reduce the spread of the virus there.  We still need to wait a few days before getting to know the exact effect that these measures will leave on the pandemic.

However regardless, as we see more and more European countries opt for renewed lockdowns in order to stem the spread of the virus, the government should be proactive and opt for perhaps less intrusive measures than further closures.

The implementation of teleworking, at least in the public sector, where possible is one such measure which can be implemented.

In this sense, as many workplace clusters can be eliminated from the Covid-19 scenario and, maybe, another near-enough lockdown situation can be avoided once again.