THE HOME AS THE NEW WORKPLACE: REIMAGINING LABOUR RIGHTS AND EMPLOYER OBLIGATIONS IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated a structural transformation in the organisation of work, with remote and hybrid models emerging as enduring features of the post-pandemic economy. The relocation of work from traditional workplaces to private homes has fundamentally challenged existing labour law frameworks, which were designed around physical workplaces and standard employment relationships. This paper critically examines the adequacy of labour rights protections and employer obligations in the context of home-based and remote work. Through doctrinal analysis of Indian labour legislation, constitutional principles, and comparative international standards, the study evaluates issues relating to working hours, occupational safety, surveillance, data protection, gendered impacts, and the blurring of work–life boundaries. The paper argues that the absence of explicit statutory recognition of remote work has resulted in regulatory gaps that disproportionately affect vulnerable workers. It contends that reimagining labour law for the post-pandemic economy requires reconceptualising the workplace, recalibrating employer duties, and embedding rights-based safeguards compatible with flexible work arrangements.