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Two million Europeans, nearly 2 % of the total workforce, are currently estimated to be engaged in some form of telework. This new way of working, which also includes approaches such as multi-site teleworking, free-lance and mobile telework, may not yet be widely spread, but its potential contribution to Europe's economic and social well-being is universally recognised. However, the benefits of telework are unlikely to come about from technological progress alone.
The increasing diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies into everyday life represents one of the most fundamental changes of our time. The challenges include considerations as to how ICT can be made accessible to all, how promoting the competitive position of European firms can be reconciled with measures to protect the workers' rights, and how the employability of the workforce can be enhanced in a society where new technology is emerging constantly. In order to underline the importance of the social dimension of this development, the Commission appointed a High-Level Expert Group in 1995 and, in 1996, presented a Green Paper on Living and Working in the Information Society: People First as an invitation to political, social and civil dialogue. The Green Paper triggered a debate on the social and labour market issues involved and stressed the need for integrated policy approaches across different areas of responsibility.
As a follow-up to the Green Paper, the Commission recently adopted a Communication on The Social and Labour Market Dimension of the Information Society. This document summarises the progress made to include the social dimension into the development of policies for the Information Society and presents the challenges that lie ahead in reconciling social, economic and technological goals. It forms part of the Rolling Action Plan: Europe at the Forefront of the Global Information Society and serves three main purposes: to increase awareness of the social implications of the Information Society; to integrate an Information Society dimension in social policies and actions; and to identify specific actions designed to maximise the contribution of the Information Society to promoting employment and inclusion.
The Commission already supports a variety of projects in the area of telework through its Structural Funds and research programmes. In its recent Communication, the Commission announces its intention to start consultations with the social partners on Community action to protect teleworkers, and the extent such actions should take. The Commission will continue to co-operate with the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in order to analyse the working conditions of teleworkers. The Commission will also pursue awareness-raising activities on telework and proposes to enhance the role of research on supporting technologies and the social and employment implications in the 5th RTD Framework Programme.
The Communication identifies nearly 60 actions aiming to promote the Information Society dimension in Community activities as well as policies and programmes at regional, national and international levels. All of these measures will contribute to the establishment of a framework where the new ways of working can be fully integrated and their benefits made accessible to all. In order to put people first, public institutions must strive to provide conditions which will enable the citizens of Europe to view the emerging Information Society with confidence. |
