EP approves recommendation by Maltese MEP on right to digitally disconnect

The European Parliament has approved MEP Alex Agius Saliba’s recommendation on the right to digitally disconnect as part of a Report on employment and social policies of the euro area, the Labour Party said in a statement.

MEP Alex Agius Saliba: “I am thrilled for the overwhelming support by MEPs and their respective political groups on my recommendation.

“For the first time, the new European Parliament has adopted and incorporated my amendment on the right to digitally in an official Parliament’s text.

“When I started talking about this right during my campaign, this was a quasi-taboo, and after yesterday’s vote, my text has become an official recommendation of the European Parliament.

“This is the first step but a vital one in order to continue pushing for concrete measures on the right to digitally disconnect,” said the MEP.

During his plenary speech in the European Parliament, MEP Agius Saliba said that despite favourable economic conditions and steadily growing employment rates in Europe, wealth inequalities and income differences continue to increase the gap between poor and rich people.

“The problem is no longer strictly linked to unemployment, and ordinary people, especially young and older workers remain at a high risk of poverty. It is no longer enough for people to only have a job! With the jobs they have, people should be able to afford a decent life for themselves and their families,” said the Labour MEP.

“In-work poverty, decent living standards, quality of work, and good wages are today’s most pressing challenges.

“We need a labour market and policies that improve working conditions and deliver fair employment and quality jobs to all Europeans!” concluded MEP Agius Saliba in his Plenary speech.