The Sustainability of Remote Work: The Significance of International Institutions

This chapter examines the relevance of sustainable development to regulation of remote work. It investigates various ways in which the sustainable development goals (SDGs) adopted in the UN 2030 Agenda can be relevant to remote work, offering a perspective that considers not only economic objectives but also the environmental and social pillars embedded in that instrument. It is argued that procedural aspects of sustainable development, such as the human right to freedom of association and effective collective bargaining together with the participatory governance mechanisms promoted by SDGs 16 and 17, will be important for the sustainability of remote work, in order to achieve just transitions which are both digital and green. The chapter then examines the significance of the international institutional response to sustainable remote work, both at the UN and the ILO. It considers the extent to which a corporate social responsibility (CSR) approach, which has ostensibly embraced sustainability, actually corresponds to UN and ILO standards that should govern remote work. It is suggested that this will only be possible if enhanced participatory engagement is enabled in the implementation of due diligence and just transition.