Teleworking and workers’ health

the role of ILO standards in protecting physical and mental health

Abstract

This article examines the role of ILO standards in protecting the physical and mental health of teleworkers, highlighting the tension between the employer’s duty to ensure a safe work environment and the constitutional inviolability of the home. A qualitative methodology is used, focusing on ILO Conventions No. 155 and 177, relevant Brazilian labor regulations, and a literature review. The findings indicate that, despite a solid normative foundation, there is a lack of clear guidance on responsibilities in telework, particularly concerning working hours, ergonomics, goals, and organizational pressures that may harm workers’ biopsychosocial well-being. The study concludes that complementary regulation is needed to balance protection and privacy, establishing objective rules for employers and employees, aligned with the ILO’s values of decent work.