Workshop 1
New technologies and transition:
Challenges and opportunities in the future of work
JDE 62
3 – 6 p.m.
Organised by the European Youth Forum and the EESC Section for Employment, Social affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
Programme
Welcome session
· Pavel Trantina, president of the Section for Employment, Social affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
Followed by three in-depth discussion sessions (each lasting 50 min), moderated by Claire Courteille, Director at the International Labour Organization (ILO), Brussels Office
1. Vanessa Mulhall, International Representative for the National Youth Council of Ireland, Speaker from a youth initiative who will speak on flexible contracts – personal development/security opportunities and challenges.
- Maria João Rodrigues, member of the European Parliament, S&D vice-president, and rapporteur on the European Pillar of Social Rights and Istvan Vanyolos, European Commission, Member in the Pillar Task Force: How can the pillar of social rights help provide a European solution?
- Hervig Immervoll, Senior Economist, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD): How can governments, social partners and civil society contribute to decent work/secure employment and smooth transitions (between jobs)?
Closing
· Nafsika Vrettaki, board member of the European Youth Forum
Background information
The future of work and its implications on working relations and social affairs is one of the main issues facing us today.
The EESC has already touched upon some of the issues linked to new technologies and transition in several of its opinions. The EESC also cooperated with the ILO on a joint conference on the future of work, organised in connection with the ILO's centenary initiative on the future of work. It featured four workshops on work and society, decent jobs for all, the organisation of work and production and the governance of work.
The Civil Society Days will be an opportunity to focus attention on the social impact of automation and digitalisation, which is transforming the ways in which jobs and employment are perceived, organised and structured. Some see the beginning of a new era where work will become ever more flexible, short-term and transient, with workers becoming increasingly mobile both in in terms of physical location and their role.
The internet has created new opportunities for personal development, access to knowledge and social networks, but these opportunities are still not accessible to all. Moreover, the combination of remote workplaces and transient jobs can increase the risk of instability and social exclusion.
A key challenge is to ensure smooth transitions. As labour markets become more fluid, they are increasingly incompatible with national social protection systems, which are based on the assumption that clear distinctions can be drawn between the statuses of being "employed" and "unemployed". A growing share of the workforce may not be contributing to – or benefiting from – established social security systems such as unemployment, health and pension benefits or insurance.
The workshop will focus on how adequate and sustainable social protection can be guaranteed for all, whilst acknowledging that there are substantial differences in the provision of welfare systems across Member States.
Interpretation: DE/EN/FR