3 weeks ago
Australia's Victoria delays world-first work-from-home law until 2027
In a place called Victoria, in Australia, leaders wanted to make a new rule.
The rule would let many workers stay home two days each week instead of going to the office.
No other place in the world had made this a legal right before.
Some bosses and business groups said the rule would cost too much money and make it harder to run companies.
They worried that jobs might move to other parts of Australia.
Because of their concerns, the government decided to wait.
The rule was supposed to start in September, but now it will not start until July 2027.
The leader, Ben Carroll, said he still supports working from home.
He wants to talk more with businesses before the rule begins.
The government also wants to pass the law before an election in November.
Victoria, Australia has delayed the world's first law granting eligible workers a legal right to work from home, pushing implementation from September 1 to July 1, 2027.
The proposed legislation would let full-time, part-time and regular casual employees whose jobs can be done remotely work from home two days a week where reasonable.
Premier Ben Carroll announced the delay after fierce opposition from business groups over regulatory costs, hiring and workforce management.
The law, introduced under former Premier Jacinta Allan, would amend Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act and applies regardless of workplace size.
The delay comes ahead of Victoria's November election and amid concerns that a work-from-home right could hurt Melbourne's already high office vacancy rate.
- Who
- Victoria Premier Ben Carroll, the Victorian government, and business groups including the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of Australia.
- What
- Delayed the world's first law giving eligible workers a legal right to work from home for two days a week.
- Where
- Victoria state, Australia, with particular significance for the city of Melbourne.
- When
- Announced on Tuesday; the law was due to take effect September 1 and has been pushed back to July 1, 2027.
- Why
- Because of fierce opposition from business groups over costs, hiring and regulation, and calls for further consultation ahead of Victoria's November election.
Pro-Work-From-Home Rights
Business Community
Legal right to flexible work
Pro-Work-From-Home Rights
The government, led by Ben Carroll, says flexible work is good for working families and should be a legal right rather than depending on an employer's discretion.
Business Community
Business groups argue workplace flexibility already exists and that employers and workers should negotiate arrangements without a new legal entitlement.
Impact on economy and hiring
Pro-Work-From-Home Rights
Carroll describes workers, businesses and government as partners and says the law can support working families while keeping Victoria attractive to investors.
Business Community
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry warns the rules could raise costs, affect hiring, and encourage jobs and investment to move to other Australian states.
Effect on Melbourne's office market
Pro-Work-From-Home Rights
Supporters see remote work as an established part of post-pandemic working life in a city that endured some of the world's longest lockdowns.
Business Community
Business groups argue a legal right to work from home could further reduce demand for office space and hurt businesses that depend on workers returning to central Melbourne.
Key facts
- Location
- Victoria, Australia
- Original start date
- September 1 (current year)
- New start date
- July 1, 2027
- Work-from-home entitlement
- Two days per week where reasonably possible
- Covered workers
- Full-time, part-time and regular casual employees with remote-capable jobs
- Law to be amended
- Victoria's Equal Opportunity Act
- Premier announcing delay
- Ben Carroll
- Small business exemption
- Workplaces with fewer than 15 employees were already due extra time until July 2027
Quotes
Ben Carroll
Premier of Victoria, Australia
“I want to be very clear – I support work from home, I support flexible work. It is good for working families, but equally though, we need to make sure that our economy, everyone, knows it’s a partnership between working families and the business community and the government.”
firstpost.com
Sources
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